Polymorphisms in the 5' flanking region of IL12RB2 are associated with susceptibility to periodontal diseases in the Japanese population.
OBJECTIVE
The expression of interleukin (IL)-12Rbeta2 molecule is a crucial regulatory factor in the T-helper type (Th) 1 differentiation of T cells. To elucidate the role of the cell-mediated immune (CMI) response in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, Japanese periodontal patients were subjected to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses of the 5' flanking region of IL12RB2, whose variants are frequently detected in lepromatous leprosy patients, in which the very weak cellular immune response is caused by low expression of IL-12Rbeta2.


METHODS
The gene polymorphisms of the 5' flanking region of IL12RB2 were examined in subjects with several types of periodontal disease and in healthy controls. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody titres against periodontopathic bacteria were measured and compared in periodontal patients with and without variant alleles of IL12RB2.


RESULTS
The frequencies of variant alleles of IL12RB2 were significantly higher in aggressive periodontitis patients as compared with healthy controls or chronic periodontitis patients. Serum IgG titres against all periodontal bacteria examined in subjects carrying variant alleles were higher than those in subjects without variant alleles.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-12Rbeta2 SNPs could be useful as genetic markers to access the susceptibility of the general population to periodontal disease. Low CMI responses or high humoral responses are associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory periodontal diseases.
Takeuchi-Hatanaka
Kazu
K
Department of Pathophysiology/Periodontal Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
Ohyama
Hideki
H
Nishimura
Fusanori
F
Kato-Kogoe
Nahoko
N
Soga
Yoshihiko
Y
Matsushita
Sho
S
Nakasho
Keiji
K
Yamanegi
Koji
K
Yamada
Naoko
N
Terada
Nobuyuki
N
Takashiba
Shogo
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000235:genetics; D053712:Interleukin-12 Receptor beta 2 Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D005819:Genetic Markers; D053712:Interleukin-12 Receptor beta 2 Subunit