Study of tumor necrosis factor-α-308 promoter polymorphism in psoriasis vulgaris

Background the etiology of psoriasis is still unclear. defining the molecular genetics of psoriasis may enhance our understanding of the disease process. an association of psoriasis vulgaris with functional polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor (tnf) gene has been reported in some populations. objective to analyze the association of polymorphisms of the tnf-α gene in psoriasis vulgaris cases and its relation to tnf-α serum levels in the etiopathogenesis of this disease in a sample of egyptian patients. patients and methods this case–control study included 30 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 20 controls who were examined to detect g–a transition polymorphism at position – 308 of the tnf-α gene by pcr and estimation of tnf-α serum levels by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. results compared with the controls, patients with psoriasis vulgaris showed a high frequency of the tnf-a-308gg genotype (p<0.05) and highly significantly elevated g allele (p = 0.03). the mean serum level of tnf-α was significantly elevated in psoriasis vulgaris cases than in the controls (p= 0.001), and was correlated with the severity of psoriasis (p<0.03). conclusion a significant association was found between the different genotypes of the tnf-a gene polymorphism and psoriasis, suggesting that the tnf-α gene polymorphism may play a possible active role in the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris.