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Abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of antibodies to components of the cell nucleus in association with a diverse array of clinical manifestations. Polymorphisms in cytokines genes may play an important role in the development and clinical manifestation. Due to this, there is a great interest in the identification of biomarkers that which could quantify the susceptibility and disease activity. A case–control study of 98 lupus cases and 76 lupus-free adults controls, was performed to analyze whether or not the polymorphism of the TNF-α gene promoter at positions −308 G/A would alter the risk for SLE and clinical manifestations. Genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction, PCR products were digested by NcoI restriction enzyme and fractionated after on 2% Agarose gel and visualized posteriorly staining by ethidium bromide. There were significant differences in the distribution of the TNF-α gene polymorphism between the SLE and control groups. Individual carriers of the variant allele A had a 3.29 (95% CI: 1.7738–6.1325)-fold increased risk for SLE. Moreover, association was observed between SLE patients and serositis (P =0.0228). This study presents a preliminary evidence of association between TNF-α polymorphism and SLE susceptibility in the Northeast population from Brazil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are associated with leukemogenesis. In order to investigate the influence of two polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene, 677C>T and 1298A>C, on the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) we performed a case–control study in children from different Brazilians’ regions. Genotyping of 176 ALL and 199 unselected healthy subjects was performed using PCR-RFLP assay. There was no association between the 677C>T or 1298A>C and risk of ALL in total case–control sample. However, 677T allele was linked to a decrease risk of ALL [odds ratio (OR), 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.22–0.86], whereas the 1298A>C polymorphism presents an elevated risk factor [OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.01–3.99] in non-White children. Our investigation provides interesting data concerning the opposite effect of A1298C polymorphisms, particularly in the light of relatively scarce data regarding the MTHFR role in leukemia susceptibility in different populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]