Extensive genetic polymorphism in the human tumor necrosis factor region and relation to extended HLA haplotypes.

Journal article

We have identified three polymorphic microsatellites (which we call TNFa, TNFb, and TNFc) within a 12-kilobase region of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) that includes the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) locus. TNFc is located within the first intron of the TNF-beta gene and has only 2 alleles. TNFa and TNFb are 3.5 kilobases upstream (telomeric) of the TNF-beta gene and have at least 13 and 7 alleles, respectively. TNFa, -b, and -c alleles are in linkage disequilibrium with alleles at other loci within the MHC, including class I, class II, and class III. TNFa, -b, and -c alleles are also associated with extended HLA haplotypes. These TNF polymorphisms will allow a thorough genetic analysis of the involvement of TNF in MHC-linked pathologies.

Authors: Jongeneel, C; Briant, L; Udalova, I; Sevin, A; Nedospasov, SA

• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
• Volume: 88
• Issue: 21
• Pages: 9717-9721
• Publication date: 1991-11-01
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.88.21.9717
• EISSN: 1091-6490
• ISSN: 0027-8424
• Language: English
• Keywords: Oligonucleotides; Haplotypes; HLA Antigens; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Genetic Linkage; Polymorphism, Genetic; Major Histocompatibility Complex; Base Sequence; Gene Frequency; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Molecular Sequence Data; Humans