The role of the composite interleukin-1 genotype in the association between periodontitis and acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Recent data indicate that interleukin (IL)-1 polymorphism may influence the susceptibility to periodontitis and coronary heart diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the composite IL-1 genotype (allele 2 at IL-1A -889 and IL-1B +3954) in the association between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and periodontitis.


METHODS
One hundred four white subjects (54 patients with AMI and 50 healthy controls) were studied; each received a comprehensive periodontal examination, including measurement of periodontal probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The extent of periodontitis was assessed by the percentage of sites with clinical AL >3 mm. Polymorphisms in the IL-1 gene cluster were assessed using a reverse hybridization assay.


RESULTS
Compared to controls, mean values for PD (4.6 mm versus 3.7 mm; P <0.0001) and CAL (5.4 mm versus 4.5 mm; P = 0.0001) were significantly increased among patients with AMI. Significantly more subjects with moderate or severe periodontitis (> or =33% of sites with clinical AL >3 mm) were found in the AMI group compared to controls (31.5% versus 8%; P = 0.0016). These differences remained statistically significant after adjustment for smoking, age, and gender. No significant differences were observed in the allele frequencies of the gene loci IL-1A -889 and IL-1B +C3954 between patients with AMI and controls. Also, there was no difference in the frequency of the composite IL-1 genotype. IL-1 genotype-positive patients with AMI had slightly increased PD and AL compared to IL-1 genotype-negative patients with AMI.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirmed an association between periodontitis and AMI but failed to detect a modifying impact of the composite IL-1 genotype. Although the IL-1 genotype was only weakly associated with compromised periodontal health, it was not associated with AMI.
Stein
Jamal M
JM
Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany. jstein@ukaachen.de
Smeets
Ralf
R
Reichert
Stefan
S
Chrobot
Jaroslaw
J
Fickl
Stefan
S
Stanzel
Sven
S
Kuch
Bernhard
B
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D053583:Interleukin-1beta