Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 15, 2003; 9(4): 824-828
Published online Apr 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i4.824
Association of two polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor gene with acute biliary pancreatitis
Dian-Liang Zhang, Jie-Shou Li, Zhi-Wei Jiang, Bao-Jun Yu, Xing-Ming Tang, Hong-Mei Zheng
Dian-Liang Zhang, Jie-Shou Li, Zhi-Wei Jiang, Bao-Jun Yu, Xing-Ming Tang, Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu Province, China
Hong-Mei Zheng, Department of Nephrology, the Hospital affiliated with Binzhou Medical College, Binzhou 256603, Shandong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the 10th five-year plan for medicine and health, PLA, No.013012 and is also supported by the General Hospital of Nanjing Command, No.2002059
Correspondence to: Dian-Liang Zhang and Jie-Shou Li, Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210093, China. phdzdl@yahoo.com
Telephone: +86-25-4825061 Fax: +86-25-4803956
Received: October 8, 2002
Revised: December 25, 2002
Accepted: January 2, 2003
Published online: April 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To investigate TNF-α-308 and TNFB polymorphisms in acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) and to related them to the plasma TNF-α levels.

METHODS: Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes. Genotypes and allele frequencies were determined in patients (n = 127) and healthy controls (n = 102) using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. Reading the size of digested bands from polyacrylamide gel demonstrated the two alleles TNF1 and TNF2, or the two alleles TNFB1 and TNFB2.

RESULTS: The frequencies of TNF2 polymorphism and TNFB2 polymorphism were both similar in patients with mild or severe pancreatitis, so were in pancreatitis patients and in controls. Patients with septic shock showed a significantly higher prevalence of the TNF2 than those without. No significant differences were found in the genotype distribution of TNF-α-308 and TNFB among different groups. Plasma TNF-α levels did not differ significantly in ASBP patients displaying different alleles of the TNF gene studied.

CONCLUSION: Results indicate that TNF gene polymorphisms studied play no part in determination of disease severity or susceptibility to acute biliary pancreatitis; however, TNF2 polymorphism is associated with septic shock from ASBP. Genetic factors are not important in determining plasma TNF-α levels in ASBP.

Keywords: $[Keywords]