Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-308 G/A And Interleukin 1 Beta-511 C/T Gene Polymorphisms In Patients With Scarring Acne

Abstract

Background Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder which may heal with scarring. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) are considered as the main responsible proinflammatory mediators of acne pathogenesis. Oversecretion of these cytokines was found to be associated with TNF alpha-308 G>A and IL-1 beta-511 C Aim To evaluate the association of TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta-511 gene polymorphisms with acne and postacne scarring susceptibility and acne severity. Methods Study subjects included 90 patients with acne vulgaris (31 males, 59 females; mean age: 19.6 +/- 3.7 years) and 30 healthy controls (11 males, 19 females; mean age: 19.2 +/- 5.1 years). Patients were sub-grouped on the basis of acne severity into mild, moderate, and severe acne groups and on the presence postacne scarring into scarring acne and nonscarring acne groups. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained for performing real-time PCR analysis for detecting TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta-511 genotypic variants. Results Among patients, 21.7% (n = 26) had mild, 22.5% (n = 27) had moderate, 30.8% (n = 37) had severe, and 30% (n = 36) had scarring acne. Genotypic variants of TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta-511 did not statistically differ between acne patients and controls (P values: .245 and .466). When compared in terms of acne severity and the presence of postacne scarring, no statistical significance was observed regarding frequencies of genotypic variants related to the both TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta polymorphisms (P > .05). Conclusion TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta polymorphic variants are not associated with acne and postacne scarring susceptibility and acne severity.