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TNF-α gene polymorphism (−308G/A) and toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis
  1. C A Cordeiro1,
  2. P R Moreira2,
  3. G C Costa2,
  4. W O Dutra2,
  5. W R Campos1,
  6. F Oréfice1,
  7. A L Teixeira3
  1. 1
    Uveitis Section, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
  2. 2
    Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
  3. 3
    Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
  1. Dr C A Cordeiro, Rua Gilberto Siqueira 87 apto 502, Campos, RJ 28010-400, Brazil; cordeiro.cy{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the possible association between TNF-α (−308G/A) polymorphism and toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TR) in humans.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed which included 100 Brazilian patients with diagnosis of TR and 100 matched control subjects with positive serology to toxoplasmosis and no sign of uveitis. Genomic DNA was obtained from oral swabs of all subjects and amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers flanking the locus −308 of TNF-α. PCR products were submitted to restriction endonuclease digestion and analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to distinguish alleles, allowing the determination of the genotypes.

Results: There was no significant difference in the genotype (χ2 = 0.79, p = 0.67), allele (χ2 = 0.095, p = 0.75) and allele carriage (χ2 = 0.70, p = 0.40) frequencies in TR patients compared with control subjects. Frequencies of the genotype (χ2 = 2.05, p = 0.35) and allele (χ2 = 0.13, p = 0.71) did not differ significantly between TR patients with and without recurrent episodes.

Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the association between TNF-α polymorphism and the occurrence of TR in humans. TNF-α gene polymorphism (−308G/A) does not seem to be associated with the occurrence or recurrence of TR.

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: The study protocol had the approval of the ethics committee of the Federal University of Minas Gerais and complied with the guidelines set forth in the Declaration of Helsinki.

  • Patient consent: Informed consent was obtained from both patients and controls.