Tumor necrosis factor-alpha polymorphism at position -238 in preeclampsia.
BACKGROUND
Preeclampsia is the most common serious disorder during pregnancy and studies show several immune-related processes in its pathophysiology. The role of cytokines and their expression remains controversial in this field. One of the cytokines of interest in recent studies has been TNF-α, which has been shown to have a higher level in maternal plasma of preeclamptic women.


OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the role of TNF-α polymorphism at position -238 in the risk of developing preeclampsia during pregnancy.


METHODS
One hundred fifty three preeclamptic cases and 140 healthy pregnant women were retrieved from two major hospitals of Mashhad, Iran. Methods a case-control study were designed. Anyone with a history of inflammatory disease, hypertension, or chronic kidney disease was excluded. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Both groups were genotyped for the polymorphism of the TNF-α gene at position -238 by the RFLP method with Ava II enzyme. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared using one-way ANOVA and the Fisher's exact test.


RESULTS
There were significant differences between the two groups in TNF-α genotype at position -238 (P < 0.001). In the preeclamptic group, the frequency of the AA genotype was higher (P < 0.001) and the frequency of the GG genotype was lower (P < 0.001). The overall prevalence of the A allele at position -238 was higher in preeclamptic cases (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In this study group, TNF-α -238 polymorphism was shown to be different in preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic pregnant women. The AA genotype and the A allele may carry an increased risk for developing of preeclampsia.
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Mohammad
M
Naderi
Genetics of Complex Traits, University of Exeter, Heavitree Rd, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Hanieh
H
Yaghootkar
Women Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Fatemeh
F
Tara
Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunogenetics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Jalil
J
Tavakkol Afshari
Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunogenetics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Reza
R
Farid Hosseini
Cardiovascular Research Centre, Avicenna (Bu-Ali) Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Majid
M
Ghayour Mobarhan
Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunogenetics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Abbas
A
Shapouri Moghadam
Women Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Masoumeh
M
Mirteimouri
Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Seyedeh Maryam
SM
Tara
Polymorphism, Genetic; Pre-Eclampsia; Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha