Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-1- β Polymorphisms in Pre-Eclampsia

Background: Pre-eclampsia is the most common critical condition during pregnancy. Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) increase in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, compared to normal pregnant women. Objective: To investigate the polymorphisms of IL-1β (C+3954T), TNF-α (G- 308A), and (G-238A) in preeclemptic women northeastern Iran. Methods: This study was conducted on 153 preeclamptic women (case group) and 150 healthy pregnant women (control group), admitted to Ghaem and Imam Reza hospitals of Mashhad, Iran. IL-1β (C+3954T), TNF- α (G-238A) and TNF-α (G-308A) gene polymorphisms in the promoter region were screened by polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed, using SPSS version 16.0. Results: The mean age of the participants in the case and control groups was 28.2 ± 6.1 and 27.1 ± 6.3 years, respectively (P=0.68). The frequency of G-308A polymorphism was significantly higher in the case group, compared to the control group (p<0.001). However, no significant relationship was found between IL-1β genotype and pre-eclampsia (p=0.39). The frequency of TNF- α (G-238A) AA genotype was significantly higher in the case group, while GG genotype was less frequently detected in the case group, compared to the control group (p<0.001 for both genotypes). Moreover, the frequencies of AA genotypes of -238 TNF-α and G- 308A polymorphisms were significantly higher in the case group, compared to the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The significant correlation between inflammation promoting genotypes of TNF-α and Pre-eclampsia is noteworthy and provides evidence on the contribution of immune related genes in this disease.