Impact of TNF-α (− 308G>A and − 857 C>T) promoter variants on susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus infection in a cohort of Mauritanian patients: pilot study

BACKGROUND: Genetic polymorphisms within the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cluster have been implicated in several diseases. This exploratory study aimed to assess the role of two polymorphisms (− 308G > A and − 857 C > T) in the TNF-α gene in the risk of developing chronic Hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection in a cohort of Mauritanian patients. METHODS: We selected 160 subjects, including 82 patients with CHB and 78 spontaneously cured controls. Following PCR amplification, the targeted DNA regions were sequenced using the Sanger method. RESULTS: The TNF-α-308 G > A (rs1800629) wild-type GG genotype was significantly associated with decreased susceptibility to CHB (OR = 0.13 (0.045–0.379), p < 0.001). In contrast, the A mutant allele was identified as a risk factor for HBV persistence (OR = 0.310 (0.132–0.728), p = 0.007). The TNF-α-857 C > T (rs1799724) polymorphism was not associated with CHB, although the minor allele T was linked with a high viral load (OR = 0.14(0.03–0.76), p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a possible association between TNF-α-308 G > A (rs1800629) variation and the evolution of HBV infection to a chronic state in Mauritanian patients.