TNF-308 G/A polymorphism and risk of acne vulgaris: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
The -308 G/A polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene has been implicated in the risk of acne vulgaris, but the results are inconclusive. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the overall association between the -308 G/A polymorphism and acne vulgaris risk.


METHODS
We searched in Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI for studies evaluating the association between the -308 G/A gene polymorphism and acne vulgaris risk. Data were extracted and statistical analysis was performed using STATA 12.0 software.


RESULTS
A total of five publications involving 1553 subjects (728 acne vulgaris cases and 825 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. Combined analysis revealed a significant association between this polymorphism and acne vulgaris risk under recessive model (OR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.37-5.44, p = 0.004 for AA vs. AG + GG). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity showed that the acne vulgaris risk associated with the -308 G/A gene polymorphism was significantly elevated among Caucasians under recessive model (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.13-4.86, p = 0.023).


CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis suggests that the -308 G/A polymorphism in the TNF gene contributes to acne vulgaris risk, especially in Caucasian populations. Further studies among different ethnicity populations are needed to validate these findings.
Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Jian-Kang
JK
Yang
Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, and Institute of Dermatology & Venereology of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Wen-Juan
WJ
Wu
Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, and Institute of Dermatology & Venereology of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Jue
J
Qi
Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, and Institute of Dermatology & Venereology of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Li
L
He
Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China ; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, and Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Ya-Ping
YP
Zhang
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha