TNFA-308G>A polymorphism influences the TNF-alpha response to altered vaginal flora. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene polymorphism, vaginal TNF-alpha level, and microbial flora in pregnant women. METHODS: Vaginal samples from 203 women at 18-22 weeks' gestation were analyzed for microflora. TNFA-308G>A polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease analysis and TNF-alpha concentration was determined by ELISA. Outcome data were subsequently obtained. RESULTS: The vaginal TNF-alpha concentration was elevated in TNFA-308A carriers only in the presence of abnormal vaginal flora. A median TNF-alpha level of 10.94 pg/ml in TNFA-308A carriers with bacterial vaginosis (BV) was significantly higher than that of 1.77 pg/ml in TNFA-308A carriers without BV (P=.02), and 1.72 pg/ml in TNF-308G homozygotes with BV (P=.01). CONCLUSION: The TNFA-308G>A polymorphism influences the local TNF-alpha response to altered vaginal microflora. This suggests that the nature of the host response to microbial invasion in the lower female genital is genetically determined.

publication date

  • November 22, 2006

Research

keywords

  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Vagina
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 34548817880

PubMed ID

  • 17123692

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 134

issue

  • 2