Screening of the human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene promoter polymorphisms by PCR–DGGE analysis

We have designed a new PCR–DGGE technique that enables detection of base changes in the TNF-α gene promoter. Screening of 130 samples from Spanish children has shown that this technique accurately detects the altered band patterns induced by the presence of the polymorphisms at positions −376, −308, −238 and −163 of the promoter sequence. Although further analysis are needed to fully characterise the alterations detected, we believe that this PCR–DGGE technique is a rapid and sensitive first approach to the genetic characterisation of the TNF-α promoter.