engleski

TNF-α -238 Gene Polymorphism in Croatian and Slovenian Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α ), a proinflammatory cytokine, is belived to play an important role in the pathogenesis of several immune-mediated disease, including MS. Previous findings regarding the role of TNF-α -238 gene polymorphism in MS are contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of TNF-α -238 polymorphism on MS susceptibility and the MS disease process in a Croatian and Slovenian population. Genotyping was performed in 368 patients and 368 healthy controls. The TNF-α -238 A allele was present in 14 (3.8%) healthy controls vs. 37 (10.1%) MS patients (p = 0.0008, odds ratio = 2.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.45 - 5.18), suggesting that carriage of the TNF-α -238 A allele might significantly increase MS risk. There was no association between TNF-α -238 A TNF2 allele carrier status and age at disease onset or disease progression. Our results suggest that, in the study populations, the TNF-α -238 polymorphism play an important role in MS susceptibility.

TNF gene; multiple sclerosis

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