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TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 Cytokines and Their Association with TNF-α-308 G/A Polymorphism and Postoperative Sepsis

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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Introduction

Early prediction of postoperative sepsis remains an enormous clinical challenge. Association of TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism with sepsis remains controversial. We, therefore, investigated this polymorphism with serum levels of cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in relation to development of sepsis following major gastrointestinal surgery.

Methods

Two hundred and thirty-nine patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery were enrolled. Polymorphism was studied through the analysis of restriction fragments of Nco1-digested DNA with the polymerase chain reaction. All patients were followed for 1 month following surgery for evidence of sepsis. Levels of serum cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 were measured preoperatively and postoperatively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Forty-seven (19.66 %) patients developed postoperative sepsis. Patients with postoperative sepsis were significantly (p = 0.002) more likely to possess AA homozygous genotype with higher capacity to produce cytokines TNF-α (p < 0.0001), IL-6 (p < 0.0001), and IL-8 (p < 0.0001) as compared to other genotypes. When compared with patients carrying at least one G allele, the AA genotype was associated with a significantly higher probability (odds ratio (OR) = 4.17; p = 0.003; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.5–11.48) of developing sepsis. Compared with the GG genotype, AA was associated with a significantly higher probability (OR = 5.18; p = 0.0008; 95 % CI = 1.82–14.76) of sepsis development.

Conclusion

TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism is significantly associated with the development of postoperative sepsis and with increased expression of cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Council of Science and Technology, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India, for financially supporting the study (grant letter no. CST/SERPD/D-783 dated 01-07-2011).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, 226003, India

    Kavita Baghel, Abhijit Chandra, Hasan Raza Kazmi & Saloni Raj

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, 226003, India

    Rajeshwar Nath Srivastava

  3. Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, 462024, India

    Sudhir K. Goel

  4. Department of Microbiology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, 226003, India

    Jyotsna Agrawal

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  1. Kavita Baghel
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Correspondence to Rajeshwar Nath Srivastava.

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Baghel, K., Srivastava, R.N., Chandra, A. et al. TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 Cytokines and Their Association with TNF-α-308 G/A Polymorphism and Postoperative Sepsis. J Gastrointest Surg 18, 1486–1494 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-014-2574-5

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