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Promoter region polymorphism in the human TNF‐α gene is not associated with lichen sclerosus
Author(s) -
Clay F. E.,
Cork M. J.,
Wilson A. G.,
Crane A. M.,
Lewis F.,
Harrington C. I.,
Duff G. W.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.1996.tb00121.x
Subject(s) - allele , immunology , biology , haplotype , lichen sclerosus , tumor necrosis factor alpha , autoimmunity , major histocompatibility complex , genetics , pathogenesis , gene polymorphism , gene , immune system
The pathogenesis of lichen sclerosus remains unknown. However, it has been frequently associated clinically with autoimmunity. The MHC haplo‐type A1, B8, DR3 is associated with many autoimmune conditions and has also been associated with the uncommon allele of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF‐α) promoter polymorphism. This allele is also associated with higher production of TNF in vivo and in vitro, and thus it has been speculated that it is the TNF‐α gene which underlies the genetic association of many diseases with the autoimmune haplotype. There have been many reports of HLA associations with lichen scleroses, but these have not been concordant. We therefore decided to analyse the TNF‐oc polymorphism in patients with lichen scleroses to determine if TNF‐α was likely to play a role in susceptibility or severity of lichen scleroses. No association between alleles of the TNF‐α polymorphism and lichen scleroses was found.