Julian Charles Knight, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Brendan James Keating, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Published online: January 2006
DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0002186
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence variation (polymorphism) occurs commonly between individuals. Polymorphism of the TNF (encoding tumour necrosis factor) gene region has been implicated in defining susceptibility to many infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Keywords: polymorphism; heredity; complex disease; tumour necrosis factor; lymphotoxin alpha
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Figure 1. Genomic location of the TNF locus (LTA, TNF and LTB) on chromosome 6p21 within the MHC. The multivariant TNF microsatellites (TNFa–e) are highlighted in green, while a collection of TNF and LTA SNPs discussed in this paper are highlighted in red.
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| References | |
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| Further Reading | |
| Dean M (2003) Approaches to identify genes for complex human diseases: lessons from Mendelian disorders. Human Mutation 22: 261–274. | |
| Field M (2001) Tumour necrosis factor polymorphisms in rheumatic diseases. Quarterly Journal of Medicine 94: 237–246. | |
| Glazier AM, Nadeau JH and Aitman TJ (2002) Finding genes that underlie complex traits. Science 298: 2345–2349. | |
| Hajeer AH and Hutchinson IV (2001) Influence of TNFalpha gene polymorphisms on TNFalpha production and disease. Human Immunology 62: 1191–1199. | |
| Haukim N, Bidwell JL, Smith AJ et al. (2002) Cytokine gene polymorphism in human disease: on-line databases. Genes and Immunity 3(Suppl. 2): 313–330. | |
| Holmes CL, Russell JA and Walley KR (2003) Genetic polymorphisms in sepsis and septic shock: role in prognosis and potential for therapy. Chest 124: 1103–1115. | |
| Knight J (2001) Polymorphisms in tumor necrosis factor and other cytokines as risks for infectious diseases and the septic syndrome. Current Infectious Disease Reports 3: 427–439. | |
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