Production of TNF-α and IL-1β by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Carriers of Different Allele Variants of the Gene

Associations of cytokine production by mononuclear cells and the TNF-α genetic polymorphism in positions -238, -308, -376, -857, -1031, and of IL-1β in positions -31 and +3954 were studied. The data on distribution of allele and genotype incidence and on the level of spontaneous and mitogen-induced production of these cytokines by donor mononuclear cells demonstrated a statistically significant association of TNF-α production by mononuclear cells with polymorphic variants of the gene promoter regions -238 > A (rs361525) and -857C > T (rs1799724). Carriers of -238GG/-308GG/-857CC/-1031NC genotype were characterized by low production of TNF-α, while carriers of -31TT/+3954CT genotype were characterized by low IL-1β stimulation index in response to mitogen in comparison with carriers of other genotype combinations.