Distribution of four polymorphisms in the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) genes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

In 153 patients with IBD, 64 with Crohn's disease (CD), and 89 with ulcerative colitis (UC), as well as in 54 healthy controls (HC), the frequencies of four known di-allelic polymorphisms in the genes for TNF-α and lymphotoxin alpha (LTα) were investigated. In the Dutch population, the alleles of these four polymorphisms are present in only five combinations, called TNF haplotypes: TNF-C, -E, -H, -I, -P. Furthermore, the relation with the presence of perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (P-ANCA) was studied. A small, but statistically significant, association between the polymorphism at position -308 in the promoter region of the TNF-α gene and UC was found. The frequency of the uncommon TNF-α -308 allele 2 was found to be decreased in patients with UC compared with HC (allele frequency of allele 2 in UC patients 0·15 versus 0·25 in HC, P = 0·044). No significant differences in distribution of the TNF haplotypes were found between IBD patients and HC, although there was a tendency towards a higher frequency of the TNF-C haplotype in UC patients compared with controls (haplotype frequency 22% versus 13%; P = 0·19). No statistically significant differences in distribution of the TNF haplotypes were observed between P-ANCA-positive and P-ANCA-negative UC patients. The strength of the associations indicates that TNF genes are not markers for the predisposition to suffer from IBD. They may, however, be markers of subsets of patients with UC and CD.     

Tumour necrosis factor gene polymorphisms and migraine in Greek children

Introduction

Migraine is considered to be a multifactorial, complex disease. Various genetic and environmental factors contribute to the manifestation of this disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) region are associated with the risk of migraine. We examined the association between 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the coding regions of TNF-α and TNF-β genes and migraine.

Material and methods

The study included two groups of children (group A and group B). Group A consisted of 103 unrelated children with typical migraine without aura 5–14 years of age. Group B (control group) consisted of 178 unrelated healthy children. The diagnosis of migraine was, in all patients, made according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD II).

Results

According to our results positive family history was present in 62.2% of patients of group A. No significant differences were found in the frequencies of genotypes or alleles between patients and controls. The non-parametric analyses of variance showed no significant differences in the age at onset between genotype groups of the TNF-α and TNF-β gene polymorphisms. Comparison of genotype frequencies between boys and girls in affected patients and control individuals were not significantly different (p = 0.089, p =0.073 respectively). The distribution of TNF polymorphisms was not associated with the presence of family history of migraine in patients.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that TNF-α and TNF-β gene polymorphisms are not a significant risk factor for migraine without aura in Greek children.     

Association of GSTs polymorphisms with risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

We conducted a case-control study to investigate the association between GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 IIe105Val polymorphisms and development of gestational diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population. A total of 320 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus and 358 pregnancy subjects were consecutively collected between January 2013 and December 2014. Genotyping for detection of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 IIe105Val was conducted by using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms) method. By Fisher’s exact test, we found that the genotype distributions of GSTP1 IIe105Val were in line with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in control subjects (P=0.57). By Chi-square test, we found significant differences in the genotype distributions of GSTM1 (χ²=11.49, P=0.001) and GSTT1 (χ²=18.50, P<0.001). Using unconditional logistic analysis, individuals carrying the null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 were associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus when compared with the present genotype, and the adjusted Ors (95% CI) were 1.71 (1.24-2.36) and 2.00 (1.44-2.79), respectively. However, the GSTP1 IIe105Val polymorphism was not associated with an elevated risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, we suggest that the GSTM1 null genotype and GSTT1 null genotype are correlated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population.     

Serum levels of IL-10, IL-15 and soluble tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) receptors in type C chronic liver disease

We previously reported that the number of TNF-α-producing cells was increased in the liver of patients with type C chronic liver disease. To understand further the pathophysiology of this change, we examined serum levels of two soluble TNF receptors, TNF-αRI (p55) and -αRII (p75), and IL-10, all of which act as TNF-α buffer, and IL-15, a novel cytokine sharing many immunological activities with IL-2, using ELISA methods. We studied control individuals and patients with type C chronic liver disease, including asymptomatic hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with persistently normal serum ALT values, and those with chronic hepatitis (CH), liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both types of sTNF-αR closely correlated with disease progression. Patients with LC and HCC had significantly elevated levels for sTNF-αRII compared with the other patient groups and controls. Serum IL-10 levels were significantly greater in all chronic liver disease groups than in controls. With respect to IL-15, the values were high in CH, LC and HCC compared with those of controls. Notably, HCC patients showed highest values for both IL-10 and IL-15, with significant differences from the other patient groups. Serial determinations revealed that interferon (IFN) treatment for CH patients resulted in the suppression of circulating IL-10 and IL-15 levels along with decrease in serum aminotransferase values. Both cytokines remained at decreased levels after cessation of therapy in patients who went into clinical and virological remission. On the other hand, treatment did not affect serum levels of sTNF-αRs. These findings indicate that serum levels of these molecules correlated with disease progress in chronic HCV infection, and that IL-10 and IL-15 may reflect the degree of inflammation in the liver. It is also suggested that both cytokines may be related to the development of HCC.     

Genetic polymorphisms at the tumour necrosis factor loci (TNFA and TNFB) in cardiac sarcoidosis

Many studies have previously confirmed high TNFalpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) production in sarcoidosis, and have shown that TNFalpha plays an important role in granuloma formation. We investigated TNFA and TNFB (lymphotoxin-alpha) gene polymorphisms in 26 cardiac sarcoidosis patients of Japanese origin. These studies revealed a significant increase in the more uncommon TNFA2 allele in the patient group, suggesting that the TNFA gene controls the genetic susceptibility to cardiac sarcoidosis.     

Role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the induction of HIV-1 gp120-mediated CD4+ T cell anergy

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp120) is known to induce antigen-specific and non-specific CD4⁺ T cell anergy. We found that early T cell activation, as indicated by HLA-DP expression in the early G₁ (G_1A) phase of the cell cycle, and the inhibition of mitogen-mediated IL-2 production induced by gp120, required TNF-α produced by gp120-stimulated macrophages. In the presence of an antibody to TNF-α, these changes induced by gp120 were inhibited, while recombinant TNF-α induced similar abnormalities of CD4⁺ T cells, even in the absence of gp120. On the other hand, inhibition of the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) in CD4⁺ T cells by gp120, which may be related to gp120-mediated down-regulation of CD4 expression on T cells and activation of protein tyrosine kinase p56^lck in CD4⁺ T cells, was observed even in the absence of macrophage-derived TNF-α induced by gp120. These observations indicate that both TNF-α-dependent and independent events contribute to gp120-mediated CD4⁺ T cell anergy, and TNF-α appears to play an important role in inducing CD4⁺ T cell anergy in HIV-1 infection.     

Elevation of plasma-soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors (TNF-R) in sarcoidosis

Two types of receptor for tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-R), the 55-kD receptor (TNF-RI) and the 75-kD receptor (TNF-RII), have been identified. Soluble TNF-RI (sTNF-RI) and soluble TNF-RII (sTNF-RII) can be measured in culture supernatants and biological fluids, and the role of sTNF-R has been suggested. In the present study, we measured plasma sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII levels in 19 patients with active sarcoidosis by ELISA in order to assess the state of both types of receptors in this disease. Both plasma sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII levels in patients with active sarcoidosis were significantly higher than those in normal control subjects. A longitudinal evaluation of plasma sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII levels showed that the magnitude of changes in sTNF-RII was closely related with the clinical course of sarcoidosis. These results suggest that plasma sTNF-RII levels may be useful parameters for monitoring the clinical course of sarcoidosis as well as markers for identifying disease activity.     

Association of complement factor H gene polymorphisms with age-related macular egeneration susceptibility

Objective: This study was aimed to confirm whether I62V and Y402H polymorphisms of complement factor H (CFH) were risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Method: 109 AMD patients and 165 AMD-free controls were enrolled in the study. The I62V and Y402H polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length of polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by the X² test to assess the relationship of I62V and Y402H polymorphisms with AMD risk. Analysis of haplotype and stratification by age and smoking status was conducted as well. Results: AA genotype and A allele of I62V polymorphism was significantly associated with increased risk for AMD (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 1.70-8.30; OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.14-2.36). For Y402H polymorphism, CT genotype showed strong effects on the occurrence of AMD (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.04-4.27). Moreover, C allele was also a risk factor for AMD (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.02-3.72). The haplotypes analysis suggested that the risk for AT haplotype carriers was high, compared with GT haplotype (OR = 3.91, 95% CI = 2.58-5.94). In addition, we found that smoking status could affect the genotype distribution of Y402H polymorphism (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results revealed that CFH polymorphisms I62V and Y402H might be associated with the susceptibility to AMD in Chinese population.     

Soluble tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor levels in serum as markers of anti-viral host reactivity.

The role of soluble receptors for TNF-alpha (sTNF-Rs) as markers of virus-induced host responses was studied by the use of murine model infections. A marked elevation in serum levels of sTNF-R75, but not sTNF-R55, was found 1 day after infection with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). In mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), an early increase was also revealed, but peak levels of sTNF-R75 were observed later temporally related to maximal T cell-mediated anti-viral activity. Analysing different well characterized knockout mice, it was found that elevated release of sTNF-R75 into serum early after VSV infection was independent of T cells, whereas interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta seemed to be a major mediator. In contrast, increased release of sTNF-R75 into serum 8 days post-LCMV infection was mediated via T cells but independently of both CD40 ligand and IFN-gamma. A simple correlation between release of sTNF-Rs in vivo and macrophage activation in vitro was not present. These findings indicate that sTNF-R75 is indeed a sensitive marker of both innate and specific cell-mediated host reactivity during viral infection, but it is not correlated to a single immunological parameter.     

The Influence of Sam-Chil-Geun (Panax Notoginseng) on the Serum Lipid Levels and Inflammations of Rats with Hyperlipidemia Induced by Poloxamer-407

Purpose

Atherosclerosis is characterized by the progressive deposition of lipids and inflammatory process. We attempted to develop a chemically-induced hyperlipidemic mice model, using poloxamer-407 and evaluated the lipid lowering and anti-inflammatory effect of P. notoginseng compared with that of atorvastatin, an antihyperlipidemic drug.

Materials and Methods

Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group without any intervention (normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100). After 3 weeks, we measured serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, and reports of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 & intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) appearances in each group.

Results

After 3 weeks, serum cholesterol levels significantly decreased in P + ST and P + NG40 groups. Significant decrease of LDL level was only noted in the P + ST group. P + ST, P + NG40, and P + NG100 also had decreased serum triglyceride levels; however, P + ST and P + NG40 showed no statistical difference of the triglyceride lowering effect. The results of IL-1 and TNF-α and the appearance of COX-2 and ICAM were statistically not different in each group.

Conclusions

P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg showed significantly lowering effects on serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. We suggest a well-designed study showing the effects of regulating blood lipids with combined administration of P. notoginseng and statin-drug.     

Localization of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and its receptors in normal and psoriatic skin: epidermal cells express the 55-kD but not the 75-kD TNF receptor.

The distribution of TNF-alpha, p55 TNF receptor (TNF-R) and p75 TNF-R in normal skin and uninvolved and lesional skin from psoriasis patients has been investigated, using specific mono- and polyclonal antibodies. In normal skin, and uninvolved and lesional skin from psoriasis patients, p55 TNF-R is associated with epidermal keratinocytes and a network of upper dermal dendritic cells. This suggests that the actions of TNF-alpha on epidermal cells in vivo are mediated by binding to the p55 TNF-R. In lesional psoriasis skin, there was staining of the parakeratotic stratum corneum and increased expression of p55 TNF-R in association with upper dermal blood vessels. Staining for p75 TNF-R in normal skin was restricted to eccrine sweat ducts and dermal dendritic cells, and was absent from the epidermis. In lesional psoriasis skin, there was staining for p75 TNF-R in association with upper dermal blood vessels and perivascular infiltrating cells. TNF-alpha in normal skin was predominantly localized to the basal cell layers of the epidermis, and was seen in association with eccrine ducts and sebaceous glands. In lesional psoriasis skin, and to a lesser extent in uninvolved psoriasis skin, TNF-alpha was distributed throughout the epidermis, and was also specifically localized to upper dermal blood vessels. Up-regulation of TNF-alpha, p55 TNF-R and p75 TNF-R on dermal blood vessels in psoriasis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this condition by promoting cutaneous recruitment of inflammatory cells.     

Association of MICA gene polymorphisms with liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis patients in the Dongting Lake region

Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A (MICA) is a highly polymorphic gene located within the MHC class I region of the human genome. Expressed as a cell surface glycoprotein, MICA modulates immune surveillance by binding to its cognate receptor on natural killer cells, NKG2D, and its genetic polymorphisms have been recently associated with susceptibility to some infectious diseases. We determined whether MICA polymorphisms were associated with the high rate of Schistosoma parasitic worm infection or severity of disease outcome in the Dongting Lake region of Hunan Province, China. Polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific priming (PCR-SSP) and sequencing-based typing (SBT) were applied for high-resolution allele typing of schistosomiasis cases (N = 103, age range = 36.2-80.5 years, 64 males and 39 females) and healthy controls (N = 141, age range = 28.6-73.3 years, 73 males and 68 females). Fourteen MICA alleles and five short-tandem repeat (STR) alleles were identified among the two populations. Three (MICA*012:01/02, MICA*017 and MICA*027) showed a higher frequency in healthy controls than in schistosomiasis patients, but the difference was not significantly correlated with susceptibility to S. japonicum infection (Pc > 0.05). In contrast, higher MICA*A5 allele frequency was significantly correlated with advanced liver fibrosis (Pc < 0.05). Furthermore, the distribution profile of MICA alleles in this Hunan Han population was significantly different from those published for Korean, Thai, American-Caucasian, and Afro-American populations (P < 0.01), but similar to other Han populations within China (P > 0.05). This study provides the initial evidence that MICA genetic polymorphisms may underlie the severity of liver fibrosis occurring in schistosomiasis patients from the Dongting Lake region.     

Association between ERAP1 gene polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility in Han population

Purposes: The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum amino peptidase 1 (ERAP1) gene polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Han population of Shaanxi province. Methods: 100 AS patients and 100 healthy people were enrolled in present study as case and control groups respectively, and the control group was matched with the case group by age and gender. ERAP1 gene rs27434 and rs7711564 polymorphisms were test by TaqMan probe genotyping method. SHEsis software was used to operate linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype analysis between the two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). χ² test was employed to compare the differences of the genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies between the case and control groups. Relative risk of AS was represented by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: In ERAP1 rs27434 and rs7711564 polymorphisms, the frequencies of AA and CC genotypes in case group were significantly higher compared to those in control group (P=0.036; P=0.039), and so were the frequencies of A and C alleles (OR=1.589, 95% CI=1.070-2.359, P=0.028; OR=1.535, 95% CI=1.021-2.308, P=0.050). Linkage disequilibrium test and haplotype analysis of the alleles of the two SNPs showed that the frequency of A-C haplotype was higher in case group than that in control group (P=0.005), which indicated that A-C might be the susceptible haplotype to AS. Conclusions: ERAP1 gene rs27434 and rs7711564 polymorphisms may increase the risk of AS.     

Association of PTEN gene polymorphisms with liver cancer risk

Objective: To find out if there are any relationship between three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene (rs1234213, rs1234220, and rs2299939) and the susceptibility of liver cancer. Methods: Genotypes of the three SNPs in the PTEN gene were achieved utilizing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Comparison of genotypes and alleles distribution differences between the case and the control subjects was accomplished with χ² test. The analysis of linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotypes of the three SNPs was performed using SHEsis software. We adopted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to show the relative risk of liver cancer. Results: TC genotype and C allele of rs1234220 polymorphism showed much more frequently in cases than in controls, reflecting that the TC genotype and the C allele may be linked to the increased risk of liver cancer (OR=2.225, 95% CI=1.178-4.204; OR=1.941, 95% CI=1.124-3.351). Rs2299939 polymorphism showed an opposite result that the GT genotype probably reduce the risk of liver cancer (OR=0.483, 95% CI=0.259-0.900). Statistical significance was not found in the distribution differences of the genotypes of rs1234213 between two groups. LD and haplotype analysis results of the three SNPs showed that the T-C-G haplotype frequency was much higher in cases than in healthy objects, which proved that the T-C-G haplotype might be a susceptibility haplotype for liver cancer (OR=3.750, 95% CI=1.396-10.077). Conclusions: PTEN gene polymorphisms might relate to liver cancer risk.     

Endothelial cell activation by tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and the development of pre-eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia may develop as a result of an endothelial activation. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activates endothelial cells which release soluble E-selectin, a putative circulating marker specific for endothelial damage. A retrospective longitudinal study of maternal blood samples, collected at different gestational ages in pregnancy, was undertaken to determine whether the development of pre-eclampsia is associated with TNF-alpha-mediated endothelial activation. This study included 19 women who developed pre-eclampsia and 22 women whose pregnancy outcome was normal. Ten women had blood samples taken before pre-eclampsia was clinically detected and, in all these, TNF-alpha was below the immunoassay limit of detection (< 80 pg/ml). Five had further samples taken after pre-eclampsia was clinically diagnosed and, initially, TNF-alpha was still below the lower limit of detection in all five pregnancies, but rose later in three (80, 156 and 250 pg/ml). In nine other patients with diagnosed pre-eclampsia, TNF-alpha was detected in only two (80 and 650 pg/ml). TNF-alpha was identified in only one of the 22 normal pregnancies (80 pg/ml), this being at term. There was no statistical difference in soluble E-selectin levels between normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, neither before nor after pre-eclampsia was diagnosed. Hence, blood TNF-alpha levels measured by immunoassay can be elevated in approximately 36% of cases of established pre-eclampsia, but this rise occurs only after the syndrome is detected clinically. Blood concentrations of TNF-alpha and soluble E-selectin are not related to severity of the disorder. These findings suggest that circulating TNF-alpha does not contribute to the initiation of endothelial cell activation that may be associated with the development of pre-eclampsia, but may rise as a consequence of the pathological processes of this disorder.     

Kinetics of soluble tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha receptors and cytokines in the early phase of treatment for chronic hepatitis C: comparison between interferon (IFN)-alpha alone, IFN-alpha plus amantadine or plus ribavirin

We have previously studied the effect of three different treatment regimens with interferon (IFN)-alpha alone or in combination with amantadine or ribavirin on viral kinetics in the first month of therapy. To understand the regulation of cytokine immune response during early inhibition of HCV replication, we analysed the longitudinal profile of proinflammatory markers (soluble TNFRs), of type 1 cytokines [IFN-gamma and interleukin (IL-12)], and of a type 2 cytokine (IL-10). Twenty-two chronic hepatitis C patients received daily therapy for 6 months. Sera were collected at baseline, at 6, 12, 24, 30 and 48 h and at the 3rd, 7th, 15th and 30th days of treatment. All cytokines and receptors were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At baseline, a correlation was found between the two soluble TNFRs (P < 0.0001) and between the soluble TNFRs and ALT levels (P < 0.003), as shown previously. Regardless of the type of treatment, lower levels of soluble TNFR-p75 were present from day 3 in patients who had significant virus decay at day 30 (P < 0.01). Baseline IL-10 levels correlated with TNFR-p75 (P < 0.01) and with treatment response (P < 0.05) and a significant IL-10 reduction from baseline was observed from day 3 among responders, irrespective of the type of treatments (P < 0.05). IL-12 and IFN-gamma levels did not differ according to treatment or outcome. These findings suggest a pivotal role for IL-10 in orchestrating the antiviral immune response. Its early decline can favour the shift from a Th2 to a Th1 immune response, which has been shown to be associated with a long-term virological response to treatment.