TNF-alpha polymorphisms are associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Searching for the Immune Basis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

“…Family studies have suggested that this relationship could be familial based on findings that obsessive-compulsive-related disorders and anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorders and separation anxiety, aggregate more frequently in first-degree relatives of RF probands when compared with controls [26,27]. In the search for candidate genes, two polymorphisms of the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene have been associated with both OCD and RF, which is an interesting finding as TNF-α is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in RF and several other autoimmune diseases [28,29]. Therefore, it is possible that both obsessive-compulsive-related disorders and RF share a common genetic vulnerability mediated by genes relevant for immunologic processes.…”

A review of psychiatric genetics research in the Brazilian population

“…45,46 Based on the several lines of evidence supporting an immunologic involvement on OCD etiopathogenesis, Hounie et al investigated polymorphisms of the promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene and association of the -308 G/A and -238 G/A polymorphisms with the disorder. 47 The Program of the ObsessiveCompulsive Spectrum Disorders (PROTOC) at the Universidade de São Paulo Medical School has conducted genetic studies on families. Hounie et al found results consistent with the hypothesis that there is a familial relationship between OCD and rheumatic fever (RF), since OCD in the RF proband was found to increase the risk of OCD among first-degree relatives.…”

Association study between the -62A/T NFKBIL1 polymorphism and obsessive-compulsive disorder

“…The NFKBIL is around 30 kb to the TNF-α at the telomeric end of the central MHC region. 12 As a previous study showed association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of the TNF-α and OCD in the same sample of the present study 11 and knowing that this chromosomal region presents tight linkage disequilibrium, 12 other polymorphisms of the NFKBIL may be an interesting focus for future investigation.…”

“…This is an interesting finding, since TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in RF and several other autoimmune diseases. 10,11 Imbalance in cytokine production can result in the loss of appropriate immune responses and excessive inflammation, contributing to the severity of infection and progression of autoimmunity. The autoimmune hypothesis for neuropsychiatric disorders warrants studies focusing on cytokine genes.…”

“…15 and additional modules for DSM-IV tic and impulse control disorders. 7 More details about the evaluation of the present OCD sample can be found in Hounie et al 11 and Miguel et al 16 2) Controls: Unselected 272 age and sex matched healthy controls (unrelated bone marrow donors) were obtained from the Immunology Laboratory at the Heart Institute (InCor), Department of Clinical Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo Medical School.…”