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Original Article
 

Effects of TNF-α Polymorphisms on Asthma Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
 

H Huang,*1 W Nie,*1 J Qian,*2 Y Zang,*1 J Chen,*1 G Lai,*3 T Ye,*1 Q Xiu1

1Department of Respiratory Disease, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
2Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
3Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fuzhou Military General Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
*These authors contributed equally to this work..

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2014; Vol. 24(6): 406-417
 

 Abstract


Background: Several studies have examined associations between TNF-α polymorphisms and asthma risk, but the results have been conflicting.

Methods: A search was performed of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Wanfang databases. Data were extracted and pooled ORs with 95% CIs were calculated.

Results: Fifty-four studies were included. A significant association between the TNFA -308A/G polymorphism and asthma susceptibility was observed for AA+AG vs GG (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.23-1.58; P<.001). This polymorphism was also significantly associated with asthma risk in whites (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.25-1.73; P<.001), atopic asthma risk (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.16-1.65; P<.001), pediatric asthma risk (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.23-1.79; P<.001), and adult asthma risk (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.21-1.52; P<.001). There was also a significant association between the TNFA -857C/T polymorphism and asthma risk in the recessive model (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.10-1.43; P<.001). In the subgroup analyses, asthma risk was significantly increased in Asians (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07-1.41; P=.004) and atopic individuals (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.13-1.57; P<.001). No significant association was found for the TNFA -238A/G polymorphism. There were insufficient data to evaluate
the associations between TNFA -1031T/C and -863C/A polymorphisms and asthma risk.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that TNFA -308A/G and -857C/T polymorphisms are risk factors for asthma.

Key words: Asthma. Tumor necrosis factor-α. Meta-analysis. Polymorphism.