Association between TNF-α Gene Polymorphisms and Graves' Disease among Han Chinese in Anhui

Objective To investigate the association of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) gene polymorphisms at position-863,-857,-238 with Graves' disease(GD) among Han Chinese in Anhui province.Methods The genotype and allele frequencies of TNF-α gene at position-863,-857,-238 were measured and compared in 254 patients with GD and 212 normal controls by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers(PCR-ssp) method.Results The A allele frequency(16.73%) of-863 locus in GD group was significantly higher than that(11.79%) in normal control group(P0.05,OR=1.503);the frequency of AA+CA genotype(32.68%) of-863 locus in GD group was significantly higher than that(23.58%) in normal control group(P0.05,OR=1.573).The genotype and allele frequencies of TNF-α at position-857,-238 had no significant difference between two groups.There were no significant difference(P0.05) of the frequencies distribution of allele and genotype of-863,-857,-238 loci between male and female patients with GD.Conclusion The gene polymorphism of TNF-α at position-863 is related with GD susceptibility in Han Chinese population in Anhui region,but at position-857 and-238 are not.