The association of tumor necrosis factor alpha polymorphisms and vitiligo in Jordanian population
Vitiligo is a complex, polygenic and multifactorial disease, characterized by the destruction of melanocytes causing white patches in various distribution on human. Recently, the progress in understanding the genetic etiology of human disease and the documentation of the cytokines role in pathogenesis of vitiligo have made a marked difference.
Whether TNF-alpha polymorphisms and level of TNF-alpha related to the pathophysiology of vitiligo as in case of other autoimmune diseases or not, is the matter of debate. This study aims to find the association of TNF-alpha promoter polymorphisms and vitiligo in Jordanian population. A case-control design was used to compare the genotypes distribution of TNF-alpha ( -308, -238) promoter polymorphisms in 40 vitiligo patients and 40 control participants.
DNA sequencing was used for genotyping both single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The study results reveal the association of TNF-alpha gene polymorphism at -308 (rs# 1800629) with vitiligo (p < 0.05), Our data suggest that TNF-alpha is involved in autoimmune pathogenesis of vitiligo among Jordanian patients.