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Tumor necrosis factor promoter polymorphisms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan
1Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
Objective:
To investigate the association of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) promoter polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Taiwan.
Methods:
TNF promoter polymorphisms at positions -238, -244, -308, -376, -857, and -863 were determined in 97 patients with RA and 97 healthy controls using the PCR-RFLP method.
Results:
The phenotypic frequency of TNF-308A was significantly lower in patients with RA than in healthy controls. This finding can only be found in HLA-DR4 negative patients, not in DR4 positive RA patients and controls. The TNF promoter polymorphisms at positions -238, -244, -308, -376, -857, and -863 were not related to the clinical manifestations of RA patients.
Conclusion:
TNF-308A itself or a neighboring gene may be a protective factor for the development of RA in the HLA-DR4 negative population in Taiwan. TNF promoter polymorphisms were not associated with the clinical manifestations of patients with RA in Taiwan.