CARD15 gene mutations in periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
The CARD15 gene encodes the Nod2 protein, which is involved in intracellular recognition of bacterial products like peptidoglycan, activates inflammation and regulates apoptosis through nuclear factor-kappa B, a transcription factor that plays a central role in the innate immunity. Two functional mutations, an insertion mutation at nucleotide 3020 (3020insC) and a missense mutation C2104T in the CARD15 gene (originally NOD2 gene) have been reported to be associated with Crohn's disease. Our aim was to investigate the occurrence of CARD15 gene polymorphisms in adult patients with periodontitis taking into account smoking and presence of putative periodontal pathogens as additional variables.


METHODS
A case-control study was performed in 104 Dutch Caucasian patients with severe adult periodontitis (54 non-smokers and 50 smokers, mean age 46 years) and in 97 ethnically matched, periodontal healthy controls (73 non-smokers and 24 smokers, mean age 40 years). DNA isolated from a mouthwash was typed with PCR technology. Presence of putative periodontal pathogens was established by culture technique.


RESULTS
Frequencies of the CARD15 3020insC and 2104T mutations were similar in the periodontitis group and in the control group (5.1% and 13.3%; 5.2% and 10.3%, respectively). The highest carrier frequency of CARD15 mutations was found in non-smoking patients without Porphyromonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (29.4% versus 17.4% in controls); however it did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest no role for CARD15 3020insC and C2104T mutations in adult periodontitis.
Laine
M L
ML
Department of Basic Dental Sciences, Section Clinical Periodontal Microbiology, ACTA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ML.Laine@vumc.nl
Murillo
L S
LS
Morré
S A
SA
Winkel
E G
EG
Peña
A S
AS
van Winkelhoff
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C429018:NOD2 protein, human; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein