TNF-α − 308 G > A and IFN-γ + 874 A > T gene polymorphisms in Egyptian patients with lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with immunogenetic factors. This study was planned to test for the association of TNF-α − 308 and IFN-γ + 874 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility and severity of SLE in Egyptian cases. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a case controlled study including 125 Egyptian cases with SLE in addition to 112 healthy unrelated individuals from the same locality. For all participants, TNF-α − 308 G > A and IFN-γ + 874 A > T genetic polymorphisms were characterized using the PCR technique. RESULTS: Cases with SLE showed a significantly higher TNF-α − 308 A allele carriage rate (AA + GA genotypes) compared to controls (26.4% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.009, OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.26–4.99). These cases showed also a significantly higher carriage rate for the IFN-γ + 874 T allele (AT + TT genotypes) compared to controls (47.2% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.02, OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.11–3.21). Comparing age, gender, and disease severity presented by nephritis class, activity and chronicity indices in cases carrying the TNF-α − 308 A allele and in cases carrying IFN-γ + 874 T allele versus others showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TNF-α − 308 A and IFN-γ + 874 T allele carriage are associated with susceptibility but not severity of SLE in Egyptian subjects.