Genetic markers of tumour necrosis factor alpha in aggressive and chronic periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. TNFalpha production is influenced by gene polymorphisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate links between genetic variants and chronic/aggressive periodontitis in a multivariate model.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-three periodontitis patients (chronic: n=54, aggressive: n=69) and 52 healthy controls without periodontitis were included in the study.


METHODS
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) c.-308G>A, c.-238G>A and haplotypes were analysed by a polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The clinical investigation included smoking status, plaque and bleeding indexes, pocket depth and attachment loss.


RESULTS
Prevotella intermedia occurred more frequently in individuals positive for the -308GG/-238GG haplotype combination (Odds Ratio=2, 95% Confidence interval: 1.1-3.7, p=0.037, 1-beta=61%). In binary logistic regression analyses, this TNFalpha haplotype could not be shown to be associated with periodontitis considering smoking, age, gender and approximal plaque index or subgingival bacterial colonization as confounding factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the genetic background of TNFalpha could be shown to be associated with subgingival colonization with P. Intermedia, there is no evidence that it is an independent risk factor for periodontitis in multivariate models.
Schulz
Susanne
S
University School of Dental Medicine, Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany. susanne.schulz@medizin.uni-halle.de
Machulla
Helmut K G
HK
Altermann
Wolfgang
W
Klapproth
Jana
J
Zimmermann
Uta
U
Gläser
Christiane
C
Kluttig
Alexander
A
Stein
Jamal
J
Schaller
Hans-Günter
HG
Reichert
Stefan
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012907:Smoking; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D005819:Genetic Markers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha