Association of tumor necrosis factor α (rs1800629) and interleukin-10 (rs1800896) gene polymorphisms with systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease influenced by genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. Variations in cytokine genes, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), have been implicated in SLE pathogenesis, but their associations remain uncertain owing to conflicting study results.

Material and methods: A systematic search of the Google Scholar, PubMed, and Embase databases was conducted to examine TNF-α (rs1800629) and IL-10 (rs1800896) polymorphisms in SLE. Eligible studies were selected based on specific inclusion criteria, and data were independently extracted. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated. Meta-analyses were conducted using Cochrane Rob Tool 2 and Review Manager version 5.4 to determine odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: According to the meta-analysis, a significant association was found between SLE risk and TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism in allelic, dominant, and heterozygote models. However, no association was found between homozygous and recessive models. Interleukin-10 polymorphisms were not significantly associated with SLE risk in any model. Ethnicity-specific analysis revealed a significant association between the TNF-α allele and SLE susceptibility in Asian populations but not in Caucasians.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis identified a strong correlation between the TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism and SLE susceptibility, particularly in Asian populations. However, no association was found between IL-10 polymorphisms and SLE. More extensive studies with diverse populations are required to validate and enhance these findings.