Distribution of seven polymorphic markers and haplotypes within the human TNF gene cluster in Koreans

We examined the distribution or polymorphic elements within the tumor necro sis factor (TNF) gene cluster in 133 normals and in 20 Korean families and compared our data with the results of Caucasians. The genotypes that are sh own frequently are TNF a6 (33.8%), TNF b5 (46.6%), TNF c1 (79.3%), TNF d3 ( 34.6%), TNF e3 (86.5%), TNFB*2 (51.5%), and TNF-308 A (91.4%). In compariso n, TNFa 6 (33.8%), TNFa 13 (4.1%), TNFb 5 (46.6%), TNFd 1 (7.5%), TNFd 3 (3 4.6%), TNFe 3 (86.5%), TNFe 4 (6.8%), and TNF-308 A (91.3%) were found more frequently in Koreans than Caucasians (p < 0.01). TNFa 14, TNFa 15, TNFd 8 , and TNFe 4 alleles were found only in Korean controls. However, TNFb 6 an d TNFb 7 alleles were not found in this study. From the TNF gene of TNFa, T NFb, TNFc, TNFn, TNF-308, TNFd, and TNFe, 49 different TNF haplotypes were found in 20 Korean families. These data suggest that the TNF microsatellite haplotypes constitute a highly polymorphic system and that will provide us eful information on the association between the TNF marker and the immune d isease. (C) American Society fur Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 200 0. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.