Genetic polymorphisms within tumor necrosis factor gene promoter region: A role for susceptibility to ventilator-associated pneumonia

► SNPs at the promoter regions −238, −308 and −376 of the TNF gene were studied. ► Carriage of at least one A SNP allele is associated with earlier progression to ventilator-associated pneumonia. ► Monocytes of WT patients produce less TNFα and IL-6 after LPS stimulation than patients with SNPs. ► The effect in cytokine stimulation is shown only for monocytes of patients and not of healthy controls.