Genetic Polymorphism and Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Concentrations of TNFα and TGFβ Genes in Patients with Chronic Lower Limb Infections

Correlation of TNF-α and TGF-β polymorphisms with protein levels in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and colorectal cancer

Aim of the study

To determine the correlation of protein serum levels of two cytokines and their polymorphisms, which have an influence on their expression.

Material and methods

The study group consisted of 65 patients (33 men, 31 women) who met the criteria for inclusion and exclusion of pancreatic cancer, and 41 patients (25 men, 16 women) with colorectal cancer. The control group consisted of 100 healthy volunteers (63 men, 37 women). Detection of polymorphisms was performed using TaqMan probes, and concentration of proteins by ELISA method.

Results

The mean TNF-α concentration in patients with colorectal cancer was significantly higher compared to the control group, p< 0.0001. A statistically significant difference was noted when comparing both study groups, p = 0.0009. The analyses show that the occurrence of the polymorphic genotype -308AA of the TNF-α gene was not correlated with the increased concentration of the examined protein in patients with both pancreatic and colorectal cancer. It was also noted that the concentration of TGF-β protein was significantly higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in patients with pancreatic cancer. These results also proved to be statistically significant, p = 0.0353.

Conclusions

The only statistically significant effects were the correlations between patients belonging to a specific group (pancreatic cancer/colorectal cancer/control) and average protein levels. There was no effect of sex or genotype on the occurrence of elevated levels of TNF-α and TGF-β protein control, despite their variability in particular types of cancer.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytokine/chemokine genes are associated with severe infection, ulcer grade and amputation in diabetic foot ulcer

Compared to other complications the genetics of diabetic foot ulcer is poorly studied. The Interleukin (IL)-6 (-174G > C/rs1800795), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α (-308G > A/rs1800629) and (-238G > A/rs361525) and Stromal cell Derived Factor (SDF)-1 (+801G > A/rs1801157) are well characterized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which were previously shown to be associated with Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU). In the present study, we looked at the association of these SNPs with foot microbial infection, Wagner's ulcer grade and treatment procedure, along with serum levels of these cytokines (intermediate phenotype) and other serum biomarkers (adiponectin, leptin, CRP and HOMA-IR) in subjects with DFU. Subjects with DFU (n = 270) were genotyped by PCR-RFLP and the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and SDF-1 were determined by ELISA. Microbial infections were determined by standard microbiological methods. Ulcer grade and treatment procedures were recorded. IL-6 (-174G > C), TNF-α (-308G > A) and SDF-1 (+801G > A) SNPs were associated with severe microbial infections. TNF-α (-308G > A) and (-238G > A) SNPs were associated with severe ulcer grades. SDF-1 (+801G > A) SNP was associated with major amputation even after adjusting for confounding variables. Identification of these SNPs in DFU subjects would help in identifying high risk individuals who need better treatment care.