title: Investigation of an IL-2 polymorphism in patients with different levels of chronic periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine derived from Th1 cells. This cytokine is involved in B-cell activation and stimulates macrophages, natural killer cells, T-cell proliferation and osteoclast activity. IL-2 has been also implicated in the stimulation of osteoclast activity in bone resorption.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study the relationship between the polymorphism - 330 (T-->G) in the IL-2 gene and different levels of chronic periodontal disease was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA was extracted from buccal epithelial cells of 113 unrelated adult individuals acting as controls and with different levels of periodontitis. The PCR-RFLP technique was used to investigate the polymorphism in the promoter of IL-2 gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing the data of three groups of patients (Control, Moderate and Severe) we did not find significant differences between the studied IL-2 polymorphism and severity levels of PD. However, when the Control and Moderate phenotypes were grouped together and compared with genotypes TT vs. TG/GG, a significant difference was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the - 330 (T-->G) polymorphism in the IL-2 gene is associated with the severity of periodontal disease. The results presented in this study suggest an active role of IL-2 in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D020029:Base Pairing / Q000235:genetics; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006147:Guanine; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013941:Thymine
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D007376:Interleukin-2; D006147:Guanine; D004247:DNA; D013941:Thymine