OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene polymorphism, vaginal TNF-alpha level, and microbial flora in pregnant women. METHODS: Vaginal samples from 203 women at 18-22 weeks' gestation were analyzed for microflora. TNFA-308G>A polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease analysis and TNF-alpha concentration was determined by ELISA. Outcome data were subsequently obtained. RESULTS: The vaginal TNF-alpha concentration was elevated in TNFA-308A carriers only in the presence of abnormal vaginal flora. A median TNF-alpha level of 10.94 pg/ml in TNFA-308A carriers with bacterial vaginosis (BV) was significantly higher than that of 1.77 pg/ml in TNFA-308A carriers without BV (P=.02), and 1.72 pg/ml in TNF-308G homozygotes with BV (P=.01). CONCLUSION: The TNFA-308G>A polymorphism influences the local TNF-alpha response to altered vaginal microflora. This suggests that the nature of the host response to microbial invasion in the lower female genital is genetically determined.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene polymorphism, vaginal TNF-alpha level, and microbial flora in pregnant women. METHODS: Vaginal samples from 203 women at 18-22 weeks' gestation were analyzed for microflora. TNFA-308G>A polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease analysis and TNF-alpha concentration was determined by ELISA. Outcome data were subsequently obtained. RESULTS: The vaginal TNF-alpha concentration was elevated in TNFA-308A carriers only in the presence of abnormal vaginal flora. A median TNF-alpha level of 10.94 pg/ml in TNFA-308A carriers with bacterial vaginosis (BV) was significantly higher than that of 1.77 pg/ml in TNFA-308A carriers without BV (P=.02), and 1.72 pg/ml in TNF-308G homozygotes with BV (P=.01). CONCLUSION: The TNFA-308G>A polymorphism influences the local TNF-alpha response to altered vaginal microflora. This suggests that the nature of the host response to microbial invasion in the lower female genital is genetically determined.
Authors: Errol R Norwitz; Elizabeth A Bonney; Victoria V Snegovskikh; Michelle A Williams; Mark Phillippe; Joong Shin Park; Vikki M Abrahams Journal: Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med Date: 2015-04-27 Impact factor: 6.915
Authors: Jack D Sobel; Navkiranjot Kaur; Nicole A Woznicki; Dina Boikov; Tina Aguin; Gurveer Gill; Robert A Akins Journal: Infect Drug Resist Date: 2019-07-24 Impact factor: 4.003