Tumor necrosis factor B (TNFB) genetic variants and its increased expression are associated with vitiligo susceptibility

PLoS One. 2013 Nov 27;8(11):e81736. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081736. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Genetic polymorphisms in TNFB are involved in the regulation of its expression and are found to be associated with various autoimmune diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine whether TNFB +252A/G (rs909253) and exon 3 C/A (rs1041981) polymorphisms are associated with vitiligo susceptibility, and expression of TNFB and ICAM1 affects the disease onset and progression. We have earlier reported the role of TNFA in autoimmune pathogenesis of vitiligo, and we now show the involvement of TNFB in vitiligo pathogenesis. The two polymorphisms investigated in the TNFB were in strong linkage disequilibrium and significantly associated with vitiligo. TNFB and ICAM1 transcripts were significantly increased in patients compared to controls. Active vitiligo patients showed significant increase in TNFB transcripts compared to stable vitiligo. The genotype-phenotype analysis revealed that TNFB expression levels were higher in patients with GG and AA genotypes as compared to controls. Patients with the early age of onset and female patients showed higher TNFB and ICAM1 expression. Overall, our findings suggest that the increased TNFB transcript levels in vitiligo patients could result, at least in part, from variations at the genetic level which in turn leads to increased ICAM1 expression. For the first time, we show that TNFB +252A/G and exon 3 C/A polymorphisms are associated with vitiligo susceptibility and influence the TNFB and ICAM1 expression. Moreover, the study also emphasizes influence of TNFB and ICAM1 on the disease progression, onset and gender bias for developing vitiligo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Disease Progression
  • Exons / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha / genetics*
  • Male
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Vitiligo / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • ICAM1 protein, human
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants to RB (BMS/Adhoc/122/11-2012) ICMR, New Delhi, India; (GSBTM/MD/PROJECTS/SSA/453/2010-2011), GSBTM, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India and (BT/PR9024/MED/12/332/2007) DBT, New Delhi, India. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.