Tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene G308A polymorphism is associated with the risk of preterm delivery
Dafang Chen1, Yonghua Hu, Baiyan Wu
1Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. dafangchen@bjmu.edu.cn
Objective:
To investigate the association between polymorphism in tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha)/G308A and preterm delivery (PTD). Between July 1999 and June 2001, we conducted a molecular epidemiological study on genetic determinants of PTD at Anqing Hospital, China.
Methods:
In a case-control-parent triads study, we investigated a total of 133 nuclear families: 79 normal gestational age families and 54 PTD families. A DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were used to genotype for the presence of TNF-alpha/G308A polymorphism.
Results:
Gestational age was analyzed as a binary variable. Multiple logistic regression analysis results showed that TNF-alpha/A308A genotype was significantly increased the risk of preterm delivery (OR = 0.039, 95% CI: 1.14-128.75). In consistence with the population based multiple logistic regression analysis, Family Based Association Test (FBAT) analysis showed that TNF-alpha/308A allele was associated with preterm delivery as 308A-recessive inheritance model and 308A-additive inheritance model both gave rise to the significant result (P = 0.040 and P = 0.018 respectively).
Conclusion:
Carriage of the mutant 308A allele of TNF-alpha/G308A polymorphism is associated with preterm delivery, which may be genuine etiologic factors of PTD.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Teratogenicity
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase


