ObjectiveTo investigate the association between tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α gene polymorphism and susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in eastern Heilongjiang province.MethodsA total of 347 COPD patients in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University, were enrolled from January 2016 to January 2017. In the same period, 338 healthy subjects in the hospital physical examination center were selected as controls. The genotype of the two groups was analyzed by high resolution melting (HRM) and gene sequencing. The genotype and allele probability of the two groups were compared and analyzed by the SHEsis genetic imbalance haplotype analysis.ResultsBoth TNF-a –308 G/A co-dominant model and recessive model have significant differences between COPD patients and healthy subjects (P=0.036, OR 1.512, 95%CI 1.023 – 2.234; P=0.027, OR 1.202, 95%CI 1.024 – 1.741). –850G/A co-dominant model (P=0.000, OR 1.781, 95%CI 1.363 – 2.329), dominant model (P=0.000, OR 0.391 7, 95%CI 1.363 – 2.329) and hyper-dominant model (P=0.000, OR 2.680, 95%CI 1.728 – 4.156) in the two groups were statistically different. The haploid analysis and haploid genotype analysis showed statistically significant differences (all P<0.05, OR>1, 95%CI>1) at +489, –308, –850 sites by allele A, G, A, respectively between the two groups. There was a significant difference in the lung function between the –308G/A, –863C/A mutant genome and the wild type (P=0.038, P=0.02) in COPD patients according to the classification of lung function.ConclusionsA allele in TNF-α –308 and G allele in TNF-α –850 locus may be risk factors for COPD in the eastern Heilongjiang Province, and the risk of homozygous genotype is higher. +489A, –308G and –850A respectively may be the predisposing factor of COPD while the three genotypes of AGA patients were at higher risk. TNF-α –308 A allele and –863 A allele are related to lung function deterioration, and the two sites with A allele in patients with COPD indicate poor lung function.