Lack of association of TNFα gene polymorphisms and recurrent pregnancy loss in Caucasian women

• Published in: Journal of reproductive immunology Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 51 - 58
• Main Authors: Pietrowski, Detlef, Bettendorf, Herta, Keck, Christoph, Bürkle, Bernd, Unfried, Gertrud, Riener, Eva-Katrin, Hefler, Lukas A, Tempfer, Clemens
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.02.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic study; Miscarriage; Polymorphism; Pregnancy; TNFα; Pregnancy; TNFα; Genetic study; Miscarriage; Polymorphism; Pregnancy disorders; Cytokine; Abortion; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Gene; Female; Genetics; Tumor necrosis factor α
• ISSN: 0165-0378; 1872-7603
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2003.12.001

The tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) gene plays an important role in immunology and inflammation. Variant alleles of TNFα are associated with altered RNA and serum protein levels in humans. Conflicting results have been obtained regarding the role of TNFα during pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). This study investigated the relationship between RPL and two polymorphisms in the promoter of the TNFα gene (TNFα −308 and −863). Genotyping was performed in 168 RPL women and 212 ethnically matched healthy individuals. In addition, we performed analysis of TNFα serum protein levels. We demonstrate that neither the polymorphism −308 nor the polymorphism −863 of the TNFα gene is associated with RPL in Caucasian women. In addition, we did not find any association between TNFα serum levels and the occurrence of RPL in a subset of 36 RPL women and 36 healthy individuals. We conclude that TNFα polymorphisms and resting blood TNFα levels do not correlate with the propensity to recurrent pregnancy loss in Caucasian women.