Association of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha 308 G/A Polymorphism with Asthma in Pakistani Population.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory and remodeling disorder of the airways, in which many cells, cellular elements, and cytokines play important roles. The role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in asthma is unclear in Pakistani population. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between TNF-α-308 polymorphism and asthma. Polymorphism of TNF-α (G-308-A locus; rs 1800629) in 329 asthmatic patients and 151 healthy controls was evaluated. DNA was prepared from blood samples of cases and controls. Samples were genotyped for TNF-α 308 G/A polymorphism. There was no significant difference in the frequency of GG (OR 1.049 with 95% CI 0.68-1.63) and GA (OR 0.987 with 95% CI 0.64-1.53) genotypes of TNF-α-308. The AA genotype was absent in cases and only one AA genotype was observed in the controls. The genetic polymorphism of TNF-α does not seem to be associated with asthma in Pakistani population.