Association of six well-characterized polymorphisms in TNF-α and TNF-β genes with sarcoidosis: a meta-analysis.

Abstract

BackgroundsIn this study, we aimed to investigate the association of six well-characterized polymorphisms in tumor necrosis factor alpha and beta (TNF-α and TNF-β) genes with the risk for sarcoidosis via a comprehensive meta-analysis.Methods and findingsThe electronic MEDLINE (Ovid) and PubMed databases covering the period from the earliest possible year to June 2013 were searched. Total 13 qualified articles including 1584 patients with sarcoidosis and 2636 controls were recruited. The data were analyzed by RevMan software, and risk estimates were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Analyses of the full data set failed to identify any significant association of TNF-α gene -307A (OR=1.25; 95% CI: 0.98-1.59), -1031C (OR=0.88; 95% CI: 0.71-1.1), -863A (OR=0.89; 95% CI: 0.72-1.11), -238A (OR=0.97; 95% CI: 0.71-1.32), and -857T (OR=1.14; 95% CI: 0.74-1.77) alleles, but a significant association for TNF-β 252A allele (OR=1.65; 95%CI = 1.33-2.04; PConclusionsThis meta-analysis extended previous findings on the association between the TNF-α and TNF-β genetic polymorphisms and sarcoidosis, by showing that the TNF-β gene A252G polymorphism might be a potential risk factor for the development of sarcoidosis.