[Association between the -1031T/C polymorphism in tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene and unstable angina]

To investigate the association between the -1031T/C polymorphism in the promoter of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- alpha) gene and unstable angina in Chinese Han population.

The genotype of -1031T/C locus was analyzed by MALDI-TOF in 299 patients with unstable angina and 202 healthy controls. The serum TNF-alpha level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).

There was no significant difference in the genotype distribution and allele frequencies of the -1031T/C locus between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, stratification by gender showed that the genotype distribution of this locus was obviously different between the two groups in men (P was 0.032). The risk of developing unstable angina in men carrying the CC+TC genotypes were 1.66-fold higher than that in men of TT genotype (95% CI: 1.040 to 2.659). There was no significant difference in the frequencies of the C and T alleles between the two subgroups (P > 0.05). Furthermore, serum TNF-alpha levels of the patients were significantly higher than those of controls (P = 0.028, P = 0.013 in men), but there was no significant difference in the TNF-alpha level among different genotypes.

The -1031T/C polymorphism of the TNF-alpha gene might be associated with unstable angina in male Han population, especially the C allele carriers might be more likely to be affected by unstable angina than the rest of the population.