Polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene in women with preeclampsia

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2002 May;19(5):220-3. doi: 10.1023/a:1015306818507.

Abstract

Purpose: We determined whether genetic variability in the gene encoding for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) contributes to individual differences in susceptibility to the development of preeclampsia.

Methods: The study involved 133 preeclamptic and 115 healthy control pregnant women who were genotyped for C-850T polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene promoter. Chi-square analysis was used to assess genotype and allele frequency differences between preeclamptic women and controls.

Results: A significantly different genotype distribution of C-850T polymorphism was observed between the two groups, with the frequency of the variant T allele being significantly reduced in the preeclamptic group (4.5%) when compared with the control group (9.6%) (P = 0.03; OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.22-0.92). Accordingly, the odds ratio for preeclampsia associated with the pooled TT and CT genotypes was 0.367 (P = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.159-0.847).

Conclusions: The T allele of the TNF-alpha gene may modify individual preeclampsia risk, being protective against the development of the complication.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Case-Control Studies
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Pre-Eclampsia / genetics*
  • Pregnancy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics*

Substances

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • DNA