The 863C>A and 1031T>C Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) Promoter Gene May Not Be Putative Predictors of HBV Endemicity
Hussein Mukasa Kafeero,
Dorothy Ndagire,
Ponsiano Ocama,
Charles Drago Kato,
David Patrick Kateete,
Abdul Walusansa,
Ali Kudamba,
Kigozi Edgar,
Fred Ashaba Katabazi,
Maria Magdalene Namaganda,
Jamilu E. Ssenku,
Eddie Wampande,
Henry Kajumbula,
Hakim Sendagire
Affiliations
Hussein Mukasa Kafeero
Department of Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Dorothy Ndagire
Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Ponsiano Ocama
Department of medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Charles Drago Kato
Department of Biomolecular Resources & Biolab Sciences (BBS), College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
David Patrick Kateete
Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Abdul Walusansa
Department of Medical Microbiology, Habib Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, Kampala P.O. Box 7689, Uganda
Ali Kudamba
Department of Physiology, Habib Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, Kampala P.O. Box 7689, Uganda
Kigozi Edgar
Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Fred Ashaba Katabazi
Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Maria Magdalene Namaganda
Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Jamilu E. Ssenku
Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Eddie Wampande
Department of Biomolecular Resources & Biolab Sciences (BBS), College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Henry Kajumbula
Department of Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Hakim Sendagire
Department of Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Background: Genetic polymorphisms within the gene loci of the promoter region of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha have been associated with the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In Uganda, there is a wide variation in the HBV endemicity, ranging from low endemicity, through moderate endemicity, to hyper-endemicity. However, the underlying reasons for this disparity in HBV burden are not fully elucidated. Thus, we aimed to test the hypothesis that the TNF-α-863C/A and -1031T/C polymorphic sites may have an effect on the difference between the burden of HBV in our country. We screened 384 participants, from which a sample of 134 was drawn, to determine the HBV, TNF-α-863C/A, and TNF-α-863T/C genotypes. The nucleotide BLAST was used to match the unknown targeted sequence obtained from the Sanger sequence against the known deposited sequence. This process unveiled the base substitution mutation and the HBV genotypes. The odds ratio (OR) and Chi-square test of proportions were used for the analysis. All the analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0 and MedCalc software version 20.010 at 95% CI. A p p > 0.05). However, the prevalence of the nucleotide substitution mutations for TNF-α-863C>A and TNF-α-1031T>C was significantly low for all the study groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The TNF-α gene promoter at the TNF-α-863C/A and 1031T/C positions is conserved in our population and may not affect the endemicity of HBV infection. However, future research should focus on the use of nationwide samples in order to reach concreate determinations regarding the role of the TNF-α polymorphisms in the risk/resolution of HBV infections in an African or Black population.
