Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the Upstream Region of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Gene with Asthma

Asthma is an obstructive airway inflammatory disease, which causes narrowing of airway, airflow obstruction and produces wheezing sounds. Tumor necrosis factor a polymorphism leads to inflammation and provoke asthma which lead to morbidity and mortality in the population. The objective of the study was to look into single nucleotide polymorphism in upstream region of -238TNF-a and -308 by ARMS PCR technique in asthmatic and control group. It was a prospective study constituting 17 clinical diagnosed asthmatic patients (Diseased) and 19 non-asthmatic patients (Control). The female was 6 (31.6%) and males were 13 (68.4%) in control group while females were 9 (52.9%) and male were 8 (47.1%) in asthmatic group. Mean age (49.59 +/- 15.82 year) and BMI (21.96 +/- 06.67 kg/m(2)) were recorded for asthmatic group while mean age and BMI for control group were 32.82 +/- 12.50 year and 18.87 +/- 05.17kg/m(2), respectively. PCR amplification of TNF-a gene was done in a thermocycler for -238 and -308 genotype analysis by the ARMS technique and statistical analysis showed that there was association between asthma and TNF-a polymorphism at -238 G>A (p < 0.0001, OR 0.48) and -308 G>A (p < 0.0036, OR 0.26).