Association between TNFα - 308 G/A polymorphism and oral lichen planus (OLP): a meta-analysis.

Yuqiao Zhou,Alexandre Rezende Vieira

doi:10.1590/1678-7757-2017-0184

Yuqiao Zhou, Alexandre Rezende Vieira

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-7757-2017-0184

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Abstract

ObjectivesTo determine whether Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) –308 G/A polymorphism is associated with oral lichen planus (OLP).Material and MethodsA systematic electronic search of the literature was conducted to identify all published studies on the association between TNFα –308 G/A polymorphism and OLP. All case-control studies evaluating the TNFα –308 G/A polymorphisms in OLP were selected. A meta-analysis of the studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria was performed. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated.ResultsSeven studies comprising 450 OLP cases and 867 controls were included in the meta-analysis. In the pooled analysis, TNFα –308 G/A polymorphism was associated with OLP with random effects and OR of 2.33 (95%CI=1.07-5.11; p=0.03), assuming a dominant mode of inheritance (AA+GA vs. GG). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, TNFα –308 G/A was associated with a significantly increased odds ratio of OLP in mixed ethnicity (OR=5.22; 95%CI=1.93-14.15; p=0.001), but not in Asians (OR=1.57; 95%CI=0.54-4.54; p=0.41) or Caucasians (OR=1.45; 95%CI=0.19-11.22; p=0.72). For subgroup analysis based on HCV (hepatitis C virus) infection status, significant increased risk of OLP was found among patients with mixed HCV infection status (OR=3.77; 95%CI=1.07-13.2; p=0.038), but not in patients without HCV infection (OR=2.09; 95%CI=0.63-6.91; p=0.22) and patients with HCV infection (OR=0.48; 95%CI=0.13-1.69; p=0.25).ConclusionOur results suggest that –308 G/A polymorphism in TNFα is a potential genetic marker for OLP.

Highlights

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory oral condition characterized by oral lichenoid lesions
One study was performed in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive infection5, two with negative HCV infection2,6, and four with mixed HCV infection status1,7,10,19
The genotype distribution of the TNFα −308 G/A polymorphism among cases and controls in each study did not deviate from the expected HWE, except for the study conducted in Saudi Arabia1

Summary

Introduction

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory oral condition characterized by oral lichenoid lesions. Previous studies have suggested the involvement of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the etiology of oral lichen planus. Several polymorphisms and mutations have been identified within TNFα, among which a genetic variation at position −308 of the TNFα gene that results in two allelic forms, including a guanine (G) that represents the common variant and an adenine (A) that defines the less common one. G/A polymorphism at position −308 of the TNFα gene promoter is reported to increase TNFα transcription and produce higher levels of this cytokine. Differences in ethnicity, lack of statistical power, and involvement of HCV infections are potential factors underlying the discrepant results of these studies. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association between genetic variants of TNFα −308 G/A polymorphism and risk of OLP with the most updated literature on this association

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