Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms in Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma

To investigate whether genetic differences in cytokine promoter polymorphisms effect various outcomes after exposure to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, 30 patients with EBV-positive gastric carcinoma (GC), 120 patients with EBV-negative GC, and 220 control subjects were enrolled. Promoter polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α at positions -238 and -308 and of interleukin (IL)-10 at position -1082 were determined. The frequency of the high-producer allele (-308A) in the TNF-α gene was significantly higher among EBV-positive GC patients compared with control subjects (23.3% vs. 12.0%, P < .05), whereas the frequency of the high-producer allele (-1082G) in the IL-10 gene was significantly higher among EBV-negative GC patients compared with control subjects (6.3% vs. 3.0%, P < .05). These data support the notion that genetic factors may modify the outcomes of infectious diseases through different TNF-α- or IL-10-producing capabilities. ? 2002 Infectious Diseases Society of America.