TNF-alpha G308A polymorphism and the susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease: an updated meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha G308A polymorphism has been reported in the association with susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, results have been contradictory. We conducted an updated meta-analysis to evaluate the role of TNF-alpha G308A in the occurrence of AD.


METHODS
Relevant articles were retrieved from online databases. The combined odds ratio, odds ratio in different genetic models, and the related 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Publication bias and homogeneity among individual studies were estimated. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were also performed.


RESULTS
In overall analyses, no risk of AD was associated with TNF-alpha G308A under different genetic models. However, in the subgroup analyses, a significant association between TNF-alpha G308A and AD risk was observed in Chinese. In addition, a significant protective effect of TNF-alpha -308A was found in the occurrence of AD among North European populations under a dominant model.


CONCLUSIONS
The result of this meta-analysis suggests that TNF-alpha G308A polymorphism may be associated with the increased risk of AD in Chinese and decreased risk of AD in northern European populations.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee. Electronic address: twang18@uthsc.edu.
Tengfei
T
Wang
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Alzheimer's disease; European geographical difference; Meta-analysis; Polymorphism; TNF-Alpha