Association of temporomandibular dysfunction with the 102T-C polymorphism in the serotonin receptor gene in Brazilian patients.
BACKGROUND
Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It has been suggested that serotoninergic dysfunction mediates the pathophysiology of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Polymorphisms in the serotonin receptor gene (HTR2A) can alter its transcription, affecting the number of receptors in the serotoninergic system, altering nociceptive pain and hyperalgesia in TMD. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of the 102T-C polymorphism in the HTR2A gene in Brazilian patients with TMD.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study examined 100 patients, of both genders, with TMD as index cases and 100 healthy volunteers as controls, also of both genders. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and the site that encompassed the polymorphism in the HTR2A gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).


RESULTS
Our results revealed that there were significantly more females among index cases compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The CC genotype of the 102T-C polymorphism was more frequent in patients with TMD vs. controls (OR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.13-4.46; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study supports the view that the 102T-C polymorphism in the HTR2A gene is associated with TMD in this studied Brazilian population.
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (FAMERP).
Luciana Venâncio Secches
LV
de Freitas
Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (FAMERP).
Ana Cláudia Polli
AC
Lopes
Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (FAMERP).
Vânia Belintani
VB
Piatto
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (FAMERP).
José Victor
JV
Maniglia
HTR2A gene; molecular analysis; myofascial pain; temporomandibular joint