Immunogenetics: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Polymorphisms in Tumor Necrosis Factor Genes and Susceptibility to Visceral Leishmaniasis in Moroccan Children

Rajaa Ejghal and Meryem Lemrani

In this study we examine two polymorphic alleles -308 TNFα and +252 TNFβ, to determine their implication in the genetic predisposition to visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum in Moroccan children. We used PCR-RFLP method to genotype these two polymorphisms in 102 patients with VL, and 132 subjects with no history of Leishmania infection: 92 asymptomatic subjects with a positive skin test delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH+), and 40 healthy controls with a negative skin test delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH-). Statistical analysis showed no significant association between polymorphisms of TNFα when comparing with VL and DTH+ groups (p>0.05). The associations were detected between VL and DTH- groups for the heterozygote genotype (P=0.021), the recessive model: 1/2+2/2 (P=0.044) and the minor allele 2 (P=0.019). The resistance to VL was found to be under the recessive model 1/2+2/2 of tumor necrosis factors-β, when comparing with VL and DTH+ (odds ratios: 0.558, 95%; confidence interval: 0.316-0.987; P=0.044). Data provide that these preliminary results warrant further study with larger populations.