OBJECTIVE

Migraine is a very common headache disorder and pathogenesis of the disease is still largely unknown. Cytokine genes have been implicated in migraine susceptibility. The present study was designed to explore the associations of polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene, and IL-10 haplotypes in Turkish migraine patients.

METHODS

TNF-α-308G/A, IL-10 -1082G/A, -819C/T, and -592C/A polymorphisms in 203 migraine patients and 202 healthy subjects were analyzed by using amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The -308G/A genotypic and -308A allelic frequency of TNF-α polymorphism was higher in migraine patients than healthy controls, and significant association was found between migraine and TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism (Bonferroni correction [Pc]: <0.0001, odds ratio: 2.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.44-3.28). No statistically significant association was found between IL-10 -1082G/A, -819C/T, and -592C/A polymorphisms and haplotypes containing these alleles and migraine.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reflect that TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism may be one of the many genetic factors for migraine susceptibility in the Turkish population.