Association of tumor necrosis factor-α gene polymorphisms and coronary artery disease susceptibility: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The goal of this study was to review relevant case-control studies to determine the association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene polymorphisms and coronary artery disease (CAD) susceptibility. Methods Using appropriate keywords, we identified relevant studies using PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, CNKI, VANFUN, and VIP. Key pertinent sources in the literature were also reviewed, and all articles published through April 2019 were considered for inclusion. Based on eligible studies, we performed a meta-analysis of association between 308G/A, 238G/A, 857C/T, 863C/A and 1031 T/C polymorphisms in TNF-alpha and risk of CAD. Results We found 25 studies that were consistent with this meta-analysis, including 7697 patients in the CAD group and 9655 control patients. TNF-alpha 308G/A locus A showed no significant association with CAD susceptibility by the five models in the analysis of the overall population, European, African, South Asian, and North Asian patients. TNF-alpha 863C/A locus A and 1031 T/C locus C exhibited no significant association with CAD susceptibility. TNF-alpha 238G/A locus A had no significant association with CAD susceptibility in the overall population. However, TNF-alpha 238G/A locus A showed significant association with higher CAD susceptibility in the subgroup of Europeans and north Asians. TNF-alpha 857C/T locus T had no significant association with CAD susceptibility in the analysis of the overall population and Europeans. In the north Asian population, TNF-alpha 857C/T locus T was associated with lower CAD susceptibility by the heterozygote model. Conclusion TNF-alpha 308G/A, 857C/T, 863C/A, and 1031 T/C has no significant association with CAD susceptibility. TNF-alpha 238G/A locus A has significant association with CAD susceptibility in Europeans and north Asians, but has no significant association in the overall population. Studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm the association between TNF-alpha 238G/A and CAD susceptibility.