Objective: To investigate whether tumor necrosis factor microsatellites TNFa and TNFb were associated with the susceptibility to and outcome of post operative severe sepsis.
Methods: 122 postoperative patients suffering from severe sepsis and 138 ethnically matched healthy individuals (controls) were included in this study. The genotypes of microsatellites TNFa and TNFb were analyzed using modified nested-PCR followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with silver staining.
Results: Microsatellites TNFa and TNFb consisted of 14 alleles (TNFa1-14) and 5 alleles (TNFb1, 3-5, 7) respectively. The frequency of TNFa6 microsatellite allele was significantly higher in patients with severe sepsis than in controls (20.1% versus 10.5%, P < 0.05). The frequency of TNFa2 microsatellite allele was significantly lower in patients with severe sepsis than in controls (21.3% versus 31.5%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, among patients with severe sepsis, the frequency of TNFa10 microsatellite allele was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors (19.5% versus 9.5%, P < 0.05). Whereas, there was no significant difference in the distribution of TNFb microsatellite alleles between patients and controls, and non-survivors and survivors (both P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Microsatellite TNFa is significantly associated with both the susceptibility to and outcome of severe sepsis. In contrast, microsatellite TNFb is neither associated with the susceptibility to severe sepsis nor with the outcome of severe sepsis.