• PMID: 18418000
• Gene Name: TNF
• Condition: Male infertility
• Association: The TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms are not associated with spermiogram characteristics and do not represent molecular markers for genetic susceptibility to male infertility.
• Mutation: TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms
• Population size: 577
• Population details: 577 (non-normozoospermic (n = 447) and normozoospermic (n = 130))
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Male infertility

TNFalpha -308 C-->t and -863 C-->a polymorphisms and spermiogram characteristics

Kurz C, Bentz EK, Denschlag D, Berner I, Keck C, Tempfer CB, Pietrowski D.

BACKGROUND: Genetic factors may play a role in male infertility. METHODS: In a prospective case-control study, we assessed the allele and genotype frequencies of the TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms, detected by PCR of sperm DNA, of 577 Caucasian men recruited in an infertility clinic. Semen sampling was performed and spermiogram results were correlated to genetic data. RESULTS: The allele frequencies of the TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms were not significantly different between non-normozoospermic (n = 447) and normozoospermic (n = 130) men [758/894 (85%) and 134/894 (15%) vs. 213/269 (82%) and 43/260 (18%), p = 0.5, odds ratio (OR) 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-1.76, and 749/894 (84%) and 145/894 (16%) vs. 212/260 (82%) and 48/260 (18%), p = 0.4, OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.78-1.76, respectively]. The genotype frequencies of the TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms were also not significantly different between non-normozoospermic and normozoospermic men. In addition, mutant alleles were not overrepresented in subgroups of men with the oligoasthenoteratozoospermia syndrome and asthenozoospermia. CONCLUSION: The TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms are not associated with spermiogram characteristics and do not represent molecular markers for genetic susceptibility to male infertility. CI - Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel. FAU - Kurz, Christine AU - Kurz C AD - Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Vienna School of Medicine, Vienna, Austria. FAU - Bentz, Eva-Katrin AU - Bentz EK FAU - Denschlag, Dominik AU - Denschlag D FAU - Berner, Isabel AU - Berner I FAU - Keck, Christoph AU - Keck C FAU - Tempfer, Clemens B AU - Tempfer CB