Association between G −308 A polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor‐α gene and 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure values in type 1 diabetic adolescents

• Published in: Clinical genetics Vol. 62; no. 6; pp. 474 - 477
• Main Authors: Krikovszky, D, Vásárhelyi, B, Tóth‐Heyn, P, Körner, A, Tulassay, T, Madácsy, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2002
• ISSN: 0009-9163; 1399-0004
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-0004.2002.620609.x

Krikovszky D, V´s´rhelyi B, Tóth‐Heyn P, Körner A, Tulassay T, Madácsy L. Association between G −308 A polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor‐α gene and 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure values in type 1 diabetic adolescents. 
Clin Genet 2002: 62: 474–477. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002 Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) is an inflammatory cytokine, which also influences blood pressure (BP). The G −308 A polymorphism of the TNF‐α gene is associated with altered TNF‐α production. The prevalence of the TNF‐α −308 A allele is reportedly higher among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) than in the healthy population. In this study we investigated whether this genetic polymorphism might correlate with BP values in diabetic adolescents. Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was performed in 126 adolescents with T1DM (mean age: 14 ± 2.4 years). The TNF‐α G −308 A genotype was determined by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methodologies. ABPM results were related to healthy reference values and are given as standard deviation score (SDS). The prevalence of the −308 A allele was higher in diabetic adolescents than the Hungarian reference population (0.26 vs 0.14, p < 0.01). TNF‐α genotype was associated both with systolic and diastolic BP values (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). In patients with TNF‐α −308 GG and −308 GA/AA genotypes, the 24‐h systolic BP average values were 0.37 ± 1.33 and −0.38 ± 1.28 SDS, while 24‐h diastolic BP average values were 0.09 ± 1.30 and −0.67 ± 1.31 SDS. Hence, the TNF‐α −308 A allele carrier state appears to be associated with lower systolic and diastolic BP values.