Cynthia C Cardoso

Publications (1)6.41 Total impact

• Article: TNF -308G>A single nucleotide polymorphism is associated with leprosy among Brazilians: a genetic epidemiology assessment, meta-analysis, and functional study.

  Cynthia C Cardoso, Ana Carla Pereira, Vânia N Brito-de-Souza, Sandra M B Duraes, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, José Augusto C Nery, Ângela S Francio, Patrícia R Vanderborght, Francisco P C Parelli, Andrea Alter, Jorge Luís Salgado, Elizabeth P Sampaio, Adalberto R Santos, Maria Leide W R Oliveira, Euzenir N Sarno, Erwin Schurr, Marcelo T Mira, Antonio G Pacheco, Milton O Moraes
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  ABSTRACT: Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a key role in the host response. Some association studies have implicated the single nucleotide polymorphism TNF -308G>A in leprosy susceptibility, but these results are still controversial. We first conducted 4 association studies (2639 individuals) that showed a protective effect of the -308A allele (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77; P = .005). Next, results of a meta-analysis reinforced this association after inclusion of our new data (OR = 0.74; P = .04). Furthermore, a subgroup analysis including only Brazilian studies suggested that the association is specific to this population (OR = 0.63; P = .005). Finally, functional analyses using whole blood cultures showed that patients carrying the -308A allele produced higher TNF levels after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (6 hours) and M. leprae (3 hours) stimulation. These results reinforce the association between TNF and leprosy and suggest the -308A allele as a marker of disease resistance, especially among Brazilians.
  The Journal of Infectious Diseases 10/2011; 204(8):1256-63. · 6.41 Impact Factor