TNF-? Polymorphisms in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Which Potential Clinical Implications?

ABSTRACT: Whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) gene polymorphisms (SNPs) influence disease susceptibility and treatment of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is presently uncertain. TNF-? is one of the most important cytokine involved in JIA pathogenesis. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified within the region of the TNF-? gene but only a very small minority have proven functional consequences and have been associated with susceptibility to JIA. An association between some TNF-? SNPs and adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility, severity and clinical response to anti-TNF-? treatment has been reported. The most frenquetly studied TNF-? SNP is located at -308 position, where a substitution of the G allele with the rare A allele has been found. The presence of the allele -308A is associated to JIA and to a poor prognosis. Besides, the -308G genotype has been associated with a better response to anti-TNF-? therapy in JIA patients, confirming adult data. Psoriatic and oligoarticular arthritis are significantly associated to the -238 SNP only in some works. Studies considering other SNPs are conflicting and inconclusive. Large scale studies are required to define the contribution of TNF-? gene products to disease pathogenesis and anti-TNF-? therapeutic efficacy in JIA.

SUBMITTER: Scardapane A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3485518 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature