A search for a mutation in the tumour necrosis factor-alpha gene in narcolepsy

Abstract

The discovery of almost 100% association of narcolepsy with human leukocyte antigens (HLA) DR2 antigen prompted molecular biological research of this disorder. In the HLA class II gene cluster, the gene for tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which plays a role in the regulation of normal human sleep, is located. The present study searched for a mutation in the TNF-α gene by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) in patients with narcolepsy. No mutation was detected in exons and introns of the TNF-α gene by SSCP and sequencing.