Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To study the association of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-308G/A and interleukin (IL)-6-174G/C gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism ( PCR-RFLP) was used to identify the polymorphisms at position 308 of the TNF-α promoter and -174 of the IL-6 promoter in 150 children with RSV bronchiolitis and 120 healthy children (control group). RESULTS: The frequency of GG, GA and AA genotypes of TNF-α-308 was 68.0%, 28.0% and 4.0% respectively in the RSV group, while that was 80.8%, 19.2% and 0 respectively in the control group. There were significant differences in the genotype frequencies between the two groups (χ2=5.665, P<0.05). The frequency of G and A alleles in the RSV group was 82.0% and 18.0% respectively, while that was 90.4% and 9.6% respectively in the control group. The frequency of A allele in the RSV group was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=7.726, P<0.05). Compared to the children carrying G allele, the children with A allele demonstrated a 2.071-fold increased risk of RSV bronchiolitis (OR=2.071, P<0.05). Only GG genotype was detected at position -174 of IL-6 in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: TNF-α-308A is associated with the susceptibility of RSV bronchiolitis and it might be an important candidate gene for the development of RSV bronchiolits. IL-6-174G/C gene polymorphism is not found in children in Wenzhou area.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2009, 11 (10):821-824］
