TNF-α Gene Promoter -238G>A and -308G>A Polymorphisms Alter Risk of Psoriasis Vulgaris: A Meta-Analysis

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 127; no. 8; pp. 1886 - 1892
• Main Authors: Li, Chunying, Wang, Gang, Gao, Ying, Liu, Ling, Gao, Tianwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Danvers, MA Elsevier Inc 01.08.2007; Nature Publishing
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Cytokines; Dermatology; Etiology; Gene polymorphism; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Inflammation; Internet; Medical sciences; Nuchal Cord; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Promoters; Psoriasis - etiology; Psoriasis - genetics; psoriasis vulgaris; Psoriasis. Parapsoriasis. Lichen; Reviews; Risk Factors; Transcription; Tumor necrosis factor- alpha; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Skin disease; Genetic variability; Psoriasis; Dermatology; Cytokine; Genotype; Risk; Epidemiology; Metaanalysis; Promoter; Gene; Risk factor; Genetics; Tumor necrosis factor α; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.jid.5700822

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a major proinflammatory cytokine and involved in the etiology of psoriasis. The -238G>A and -308G>A polymorphisms influence the transcription of the TNF-α gene and have been implicated in psoriasis risk. However, the results from the published studies on the association between TNF-α polymorphisms and psoriasis risk are conflicting. Our meta-analysis of a total of 997 psoriasis cases and 943 control subjects from eight published case–control studies for the -238G>A polymorphism and of 1,156 psoriasis cases and 1,083 control subjects from 10 published case–control studies for the -308G>A polymorphism showed that a significantly increased risk was associated with the variant GA+AA genotypes of -238G>A, compared with the GG genotype (odds ratio (OR) 2.60, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.48–4.56), whereas a significantly reduced psoriasis risk was associated with the variant GA+AA genotypes of the -308G>A compared with the GG genotype (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.45–0.71). Our findings suggest that TNF-α -238G>A and -308G>A polymorphisms might be used as biomarkers for psoriasis risk prediction. A single larger study with thousands of subjects and biochemical and biological characterization is warranted to evaluate further the role of -238G>A and -308G>A polymorphisms and psoriasis risk in a population of various ethnicities.