TNF-alpha promoter region polymorphisms affect HBV virus clearance in southern Chinese

There are many cytokines, including TNF-α, TGFβ, PGF, and other factors contributing towards fibrogenesis, that play a role in the control of HBV infection. Among these, TNF-α is the most important cytokine in host immune response to viral infection. This study aimed to determine whether differences in the promoter region of the TNF-α gene may alter the outcomes of HBV infection. Two polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene, -308 G/A (rs1800629) and -863 C/A (rs1800630), were analyzed by DNA sequence in the case–control sample using 171 chronic HBV-infected patients and 227 recovered HBV-infected controls. All subjects were unrelated southern Han Chinese. For TNF-α-308, healthy controls compared to HBV infection have a significantly higher allele A and GA genotype frequency. For TNF-α-863, no significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies between the case groups and the control group were observed. This study provides evidence of a positive association between HBV clearance and TNF-α-308A. •We collected the blood samples of 171 chronic HBV-infected patients and 227 recovered HBV-infected controls.•We examined two polymorphisms -308 and -863 in the promoter region of TNF-α.•We examined the association between two polymorphisms and the outcome of HBV infection by DNA sequencing.•Our results established an association between TNF-α-308 and HBV disease in the Chinese Han population.•The association showed that -308 A has a positive effect on HBV virus clearance.