Relationship of tumor necrosis factor alpha genotypes with various biochemical parameters of normal, over-weight and obese human subjects

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-alpha) is expressed primarily in adipocytes and elevated levels of this cytokine have been associated with obesity. The purpose of this investigation was to test whether the TNF-alpha-308 polymorphism were associated with insulin resistance or obesity related traits in non-diabetic and diabetic patients visiting Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Fatima Hospital and Irfan Clinic in Sargodha. In non-diabetic subjects the AA allele carriers, compared with homozygous G allele carriers had significantly lower (28%) triglycerides values and 15% higher HDL values, whereas other parameters tested 8lid not show any significant variation. In diabetic patients the AA allele carriers, compared with GG allele carriers, besides having 31% higher FBS and 26% higher creatinine, had 20% higher cholesterol and 34% higher triglycerides. The HDL values were 14% less, compared to GG allele carriers. In normal subjects (BMI 22.85 plus minus 0.25 kg/m2), the AA allele carriers showed 132%, 125%, 65% and 112% higher triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL values compared with GG allele carriers. The HDL and creatinine did not show any significant change. In the overweight subjects (BMI: 27.17 plus minus 0.17 kg/m2) all these values were lower than in AA allele carriers compared with GG allele carriers. The AA allele carries had FBS, triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL 28%, 48%, 14% and 14% lower than in the GG allele carriers, respectively. In obese subjects, (BMI: 36.73 plus minus 0.78 kg/m2), however, the FBS, triglycerides, cholesterol and creatinine values were 5%, 8%, 7% and 14% higher in AA allele carries compared to GG allele carriers, respectively. The LDL content was 8% lower in AA allele carrier as compared with the respective GG allele carriers, It is concluded that replacement of G at -308 with A leads to reduced risk for cardiovascular disease in non-diabetic subject, whereas in diabetic patients this muta t ion-increases the risk of CVD. Using BMI as index of obesity, it was observed that obese subject with AA alleles had greater risk of CVD, as compared with those with GG alleles. Comparatively, however, this risk was much higher in AA allele carriers with BMI 22.85 plus minus 0.25 kg/m2 (normal subjects) than with their respectively GG carriers or those of obese subjects.