Tumor necrosis factor beta NcoI polymorphism is associated with inflammatory and metabolic markers in multiple sclerosis patients

To evaluate the association between the tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-beta) NcoI polymorphism and inflammatory and metabolic markers in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and the association of these markers with disease disability, a 782 base-pair fragment of the TNF-beta gene was amplified from genomic DNA and digested with the NcoI restriction enzyme. The serum levels of numerous cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-12, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17) serum lipid levels, plasma insulin levels, and the Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were evaluated in 123 female and 43 male patients with MS. Females carrying the TNFB2/B2 genotype presented with decreased IL-4 and IL-10 levels and increased TNF-alpha, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels; moreover, there were positive correlations between EDSS and glucose and between EDSS and HOMA-IR in these females. Males carrying the TNFB2/B2 genotype exhibited increased levels of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-17 (p = 0.0326) and decreased levels of IL-4,IL-10, insulin, and HOMA-IR; there was a positive correlation between EDSS and TNF-alpha levels. The TNFB2/B2 genotype of TNF-beta NcoI polymorphism was associated with increased inflammatory and metabolic markers and this association was different according to sex of MS patients. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.