title: Association of DLX3 gene polymorphism and  dental caries susceptibility in Japanese children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DLX3 are associated with dental caries susceptibility in Japanese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genomic DNA of 201 Japanese children was extracted from buccal epithelial cells. The subjects were divided into two groups: 'low level' group with <10,000 colony forming units (CFU) of Streptococcus mutans/mL saliva (level 0) and 'high level' group with ≥ 10,000 CFU/mL (more than level 1). Each group was further divided according to decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft) into low caries experience (dmft ≤2) and high caries experience (dmft ≥ 3). Seven SNPs in DLX3 were genotyped using TaqMan1® SNP Genotyping Assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical significant association was observed between DLX3 (rs2278163) and caries experience in 'high level Mutans streptococci' group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that rs2278163 SNP of DLX3 might be associated with dental caries susceptibility in Japanese children. T and C alleles of rs2278163 SNP may potentially be involved in caries susceptibility and caries protection respectively.
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asada
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C088334:Distal-less homeobox proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors