ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the relationship between tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene polymorphisms in donors and recipients and the incidence and severity of acute graft-versus-host diseases (aGVHD) after unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alIo-HSCT). Methods Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TNFα-238 (G/A), TNFα-857 (C/T), TNFα-863 (C/A), TNFα-1031 (T/C), TNFβ + 252 (A/G) were analyzed by Multiplex SNaPshot analysis in 76 pairs of donors and recipients. Results Transplantation involving donors with TNFα-857 CC genotype resulted in a higher incidence of grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ aGVHD than donors with CT genotype (91.3% vs 8. 7% , P =0. 039). In the 23 patients with grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ aGVHD, no patients had TNFβ +252 AA genotype, 19 (82.6%) had GA genotype and 4 (17.4%) had GG genotype. There was a significant difference in the distribution pattern of the TNFβ +252 (AA, GA and GG) genotypes in these patients (P =0.03). There was no significant association of TNFα-238 (G/A), TNFα-863 (C/A) and TNFα-1031 (T/C) polymorphisms with the risk of aGVHD. Conclusion These results suggest donor TNFα-857 CC genotype is related to a higher incidence of grade Ⅱ -Ⅳ aGVHD, and patients with TNFβ +252 AA genotype have protection against the risk of grade Ⅱ -Ⅳ aGVHD.