Analysis of two common alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency alleles (PI*Z and PI*S) in subjects with periodontitis.
BACKGROUND
pi alpha 1-Antitrypsin deficiency is a genetically determined condition resulting in predisposition to certain inflammatory diseases due to a protease: antiprotease imbalance that is exacerbated by tobacco smoking. Limited evidence suggests that there may be a significant enrichment of mild alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency phenotypes in subjects with chronic inflammatory periodontal disease.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of two common alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency alleles (PI*Z and PI*S) in a UK population of subjects with periodontitis.


METHODS
The prevalence of PI*M, PI*S and PI*Z allele combinations was determined in 31 subjects with periodontitis and compared with 31 healthy control subjects matched for smoking status, ethnicity, age and gender. alpha 1-Antitrypsin genotyping was performed by multiplex real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using DNA extracted from whole blood.


RESULTS
There was no difference in the proportion of any alpha 1-antitrypsin genotype found in the diseased and control populations.


CONCLUSIONS
We did not find evidence to support an association between mutant PI* alleles and periodontitis in a small, controlled study. Larger studies will be required to clarify the relationship between alpha1-antitrypsin genotype and susceptibility to inflammatory periodontal disease.
Scott
D A
DA
Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. ScottDA@ms.UManitoba.ca
von Ahsen
N
N
Palmer
R M
RM
Wilson
R F
RF
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012907:Smoking; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D006113:United Kingdom; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000235:genetics*; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000235:genetics*
D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin