Association of -238G/A polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter region with outcomes of hepatitis B virus infection in Chinese Han population

Abstract

AIM:To clarify whether -238G/A polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene promoter region was associated with outcomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Han population of northern China, and to analyze the geneenvironment interaction between -238G/A polymorphism and cigarette smoking or alcohol consumption. METHODS:A case-control study was conducted to analyze the association of TNF-α gene promoter polymorphism with HBV infection outcomes. A total of 207 patients with chronic hepatitis B (HB) and 148 cases of self-limited HBV infection from Ditan Hospital and Shunyi District Hospital in Beijing, respectively were recruited. History of smoking and alcohol drinking was inquired by a questionnaire. The -238G/A polymorphism of TNF-α gene promoter was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS:The frequencies of GG and GA genotypes were 98.07% and 1.93% in chronic HB patients and 93.24% and 6.76% in self-limited HBV infection individuals, respectively (χ 2 =5.30, P=0.02). The frequency of G allele was significantly higher in patients with chronic HB that in individuals with self-limited HBV infection (99.03% vs 96.62%, χ 2 =5.20, P=0.02). Only modestly increased risk of onset of chronic HB was found in smokers (OR=1.40, 95% CI: 0.87-2.28, P=0.14) and drinkers (OR=1.26, P=0.32). There was a positive interaction between genotype GG and cigarette smoking with an interaction index (II) of 2.95, or alcohol consumption with an II of 1.64. CONCLUSION:The -238G/A polymorphism of TNF-α gene promoter region is independently associated with different outcomes of HBV infection.

Relationship between TNF-<alpha> Gene Promoter Polymorphisms and Outcomes of Hepatitis B Virus Infections: A Meta-Analysis

“…However, the results differed from the study of Lu et al [32]. The current results suggest that ethnicity may have played an important role in HBV infection outcome, leading to results inconsistent with that of others.…”

Association of TNF-α Gene Polymorphisms with Production of Protein and Susceptibility to Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in the South East Iranian Population

“…However, the expression of TNF-α is affected by SNPs, but we did not find any difference among -238 A/G genotypes with regard to the serum levels of TNF-α. In accordance with our findings, Du et al (34) and Lu et al (35) reported an association between the -238 GG genotype and HBV infection. The current study indicated a relative increase in the frequency of -238 GG genotype and G allele in HBV infected patients; but it was not significant.…”

Hantavirus‐induced immunity in rodent reservoirs and humans

“…Other genes that could influence the course of viral infections, for example cytokine‐encoding genes, also show some limited polymorphism. It was demonstrated that a single nucleotide polymporphism (SNP) in the TNF‐α gene promoter at position – 238 leading to low TNF‐α production was associated with a more severe clinical course of PUUV infection (290) and the development of chronic active hepatitis B and C (291, 292). TNF‐α is especially important for elimination of non‐cytopathic viruses like hepatitis B and C virus, as it can purge viruses from infected cells without lysing them and, therefore, without collateral damage (237).…”