Association of TNF-α rs-281865419 polymorphism with reproductive tract infections in Indian population
Aim: To investigate the presence of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in symptomatic and asymptomatic women in North India and association of SNPs in TNFα gene (rs-281865419 C/T) with susceptibility to these RTIs. Methods: We collected 100 symptomatic (cases) and 100 asymptomatic women (controls) samples and screened them for RTIs. Then genotyping of TNF-α gene was performed by PCR-RFLP. Results: Among cases the frequencies of RTIs infection is higher than control. The prevalence of HPV, C. trachomatis, T. vaginalis, Bacterial vaginosis and N. gonorrhoeae are 28% & 6%; 11%, 32% respectively while in controls it was 5%, 2%, 1% and 8% & 1%. In the present study we found that the frequency of wild homozygous genotype (TT) was lower in cases 30% (6/20) as compared to controls 60% (12/20). The frequency of the heterozygous polymorphic genotype (CT) was higher in cases 65% (65/100) as compared to controls 32% (32/100). It was interesting to note that the frequency of the polymorphic homozygous genotype (CC) was higher in cases 15% (15/100) than controls 2% (2/100). While the frequency of the carrier genotype (CT + TT) was found to be more in cases 70% (70/100) than in controls 40/100 (40%). This study shows that T allele may be risk factor for Reproductive tract infections as its percentage is higher in cases as compare to normal controls. Conclusion: TNF-? rs-281865419 locus may serve as an important biomarker for RTIs predisposition in Indian population though larger sample size is needed to validate the findings.