Detection of TNF-α as a Cofactor in the Pathogenesis of Nasal Polypi

Abstract

asal Polyposis (NP) is a complex multi-factorial disease; associated with several environmental, genetic and inflammatory factors. TNF-alpha is one of the major pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in NP pathogenesis. Some of the polymorphisms of this gene affect its expression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the polymorphism of TNF-alpha G/A308 gene and its association with nasal polyposis in Egypt. In this case-control study, 25 patients with NP and 25 healthy individuals referred to Ain Shams University hospital were evaluated. After DNA extraction, RFLP-PCR was used to determine polymorphism. Chi-square test was used to compare the frequency distribution of genotype and alleles of TNFalpha gene with NP. The frequency of genotype G/G, A/A and G/A in the NP group was 8, 40 and 52%, and in the control group was 76, 1 and 5 %, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between genotype G/G in two groups (P = 0.0001). In addition, the frequency of allele A in patients and controls was 10 and 1%, respectively; and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0001). The findings of this study demonstrated that polymorphism in TNF-alpha gene might be a risk factor for NP in Egypt and the minor frequency of TNF-alpha G308A allele in the current study is slightly more than other major populations. However, more investigations with high number of population are necessary in future.