TNF-α -857 and -1031 Polymorphisms Predict Good Therapeutic Response to TNF-α Blockers in Chinese Han Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate whether polymorphisms at -857, -1031, -308 and -238 positions of the TNF-α gene influence response to TNF-α-blocker therapy in Chinese Han patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Patients & methods: A total of 106 patients with ankylosing spondylitis were recruited and genotyped for -857, -1031, -308 and -238 TNF-α gene polymorphisms. In total, 32 received infliximab and 74 received a recombinant human TNF-α receptor II–IgG Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR–Fc). At the end of 12 weeks, patients were assessed using the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) 20, 40, 50 and 70 criteria. Results: Polymorphisms at -308 and -238 did not affect therapeutic response. The -857 C/C genotype (p = 0.0021) responded better to therapy. The -1031 T/T genotype (p = 0.0004) showed better outcome. Conclusion: In Chinese Han ankylosing spondylitis patients, polymorphisms at the -308 and -238 positions of the TNF-α gene are unable to predict TNF-α-blocker response; however, -857 C/C and -1031 T/T genotypes have the ability to predict good response.

Original submitted 13 June 2012; Revision submitted 6 August 2012

KEYWORDS::

• ankylosing spondylitis
• polymorphis
• therapeutic respons
• TNF-α
• TNF-α blockers

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all patients who participated in the study and provided their sincere cooperation and full support. The authors would also like to express gratitude to R-W Chen from the Department of Genetics (Second Military Medical University) for valuable guidance in detecting the SNPs and would like to thank J He from the Department of Statistics (Second Military Medical University) for support in our analyses.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study has been supported by grants from Shanghai Scientific Committee Basic Research Fund (08JC1406300). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that approval for the study has been received from the Local Ethical Committee of Changhai Hospital affiliated to the Second Military Medical University and all the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations have been followed. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Additional information

Funding

This study has been supported by grants from Shanghai Scientific Committee Basic Research Fund (08JC1406300). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.