Tumor necrosis factor-alpha -863C/A polymorphism is associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome in Bangladesh

Abstract Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a post-infectious autoimmune polyneuropathy regulated by pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines; TNFA polymorphisms may exert immune pathogenic roles in GBS. We assessed TNFA promoter region polymorphisms (-238G/A, -308G/A, -857C/T, -863C/A) in Bangladeshi patients with GBS ( n  = 300) and healthy controls ( n  = 300) by PCR-RFLP and ASO-PCR. TNFA -863CA was significantly associated with GBS disease susceptibility ( P =  0.0154) and disease severity ( P  = 0.0492). TNFA -238A allele was more frequent among anti-ganglioside (GM1) antibody-positive patients ( P  = 0.0092) and -863AA associated with AMAN subtype of GBS ( P  = 0.0398). TNFA -863C/A may contribute to GBS severity and pathogenesis in Bangladeshi patients.