Research Article

TNF-αG-308A polymorphism is associated with insulin resistance: a meta-analysis

Published: January 26, 2015
Genet. Mol. Res. 14 (1) : 563-573 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.January.26.11
Cite this Article:
H.G. Wang, J. Yang, H. Han, F. Xu, Y. Bian, H. Zhang, J.L. Wang (2015). TNF-αG-308A polymorphism is associated with insulin resistance: a meta-analysis. Genet. Mol. Res. 14(1): 563-573. https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.January.26.11
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Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promoter polymorphisms has been reported to be associated with obesity and insulin resistance and gained widespread attention. However, results obtained so far are quite conf‍‍licting. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to address this issue, basing on 17 studies from electronic databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE). No evidence of significant effect of TNF-αG-308A polymorphism on body mass index (BMI) or obesity risk was detected (BMI: WMDRE = 0.05, 95%CI: -0.62 to 0.73; risk of obesity: ORFE = 1.09, 95%CI: 0.87 to 1.35). G-308A variant was significantly associated with increased insulin levels in the overall (SMDFE = 0.12, 95%CI: 0.03 to 0.20) and obese subgroup analysis (SMDFE = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.03 to 0.29). In total, no significant result was observed for the association between TNF-α G-308A variant and HOMA-IR index. Nevertheless, subgroup analysis showed G-308A polymorphism was significantly associated with increased HOMA-IR in Caucasians (WMDFE = 0.49, 95%CI: 0.03 to 0.94). Our results indicate that TNF-αG-308A polymorphism has a significant effect on insulin resistance. However, it is unlikely that G-308A variant contributes to obesity.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promoter polymorphisms has been reported to be associated with obesity and insulin resistance and gained widespread attention. However, results obtained so far are quite conf‍‍licting. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to address this issue, basing on 17 studies from electronic databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE). No evidence of significant effect of TNF-αG-308A polymorphism on body mass index (BMI) or obesity risk was detected (BMI: WMDRE = 0.05, 95%CI: -0.62 to 0.73; risk of obesity: ORFE = 1.09, 95%CI: 0.87 to 1.35). G-308A variant was significantly associated with increased insulin levels in the overall (SMDFE = 0.12, 95%CI: 0.03 to 0.20) and obese subgroup analysis (SMDFE = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.03 to 0.29). In total, no significant result was observed for the association between TNF-α G-308A variant and HOMA-IR index. Nevertheless, subgroup analysis showed G-308A polymorphism was significantly associated with increased HOMA-IR in Caucasians (WMDFE = 0.49, 95%CI: 0.03 to 0.94). Our results indicate that TNF-αG-308A polymorphism has a significant effect on insulin resistance. However, it is unlikely that G-308A variant contributes to obesity.