CD14/-159 and TNF?/-308 Promoter Polymorphisms are not associated with Development of Idiopathic Neonatal Hepatitis among Filipinos

Objective. To determine if the CD14/-159 and the TNF?/-308 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with the development of Idiopathic Neonatal Hepatitis (INH) in Filipino children.

Methods. Genomic DNA from 33 patients diagnosed with INH and 33 age- and sex-matched controls, children without any liver disease, were recruited. Baseline serum total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the patients were obtained from their medical records. Genotypes for CD14/159 and TNF?/-308 were determined via PCR and direct sequencing.

Results. No significant difference was seen between the frequency of the CD14/-159 T allele (p=0.86) nor the TNF?/-308 A allele (p=0.62) between INH patients and controls. There was also no significant difference between the genotypic distribution of the INH and control populations for both CD14/-159 (p=0.54) and TNF?/-308 (p=0.62). There were also no significant differences noted between the different genotypes of CD14/159 and TNF?/-308 and levels of alkaline phosphatase (p=0.65, p=0.91), total bilirubin (p=0.89, p=0.75), and direct bilirubin (p=0.93, p=0.68).

Conclusion. In this preliminary study, CD14/-159 and TNF?/-308 showed no association with the development of INH among Filipinos.