title: Aggressive periodontitis: An appraisal of systemic effects on its etiology-genetic aspect.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a lysosomal enzyme found in the azurophilic granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and is able to mediate inflammatory tissue destruction in aggressive and chronic periodontitis (CP). Human telomerase is a multi subunit ribonucleoprotein enzyme concerned with telomeric lengthening and homeostasis in man and has been found to be elevated in inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis. The aim of this study was to explore in aggressive periodontitis (AP) subjects: (i) The role of MPO-463G/A gene polymorphism and (ii) the level of telomerase expression. These parameters have been compared with the subjects of CP and that of the healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 subjects of the age group 20-50 years and free from any known systemic disease were included in the study. They were divided into three groups - Group I-periodontally healthy control (n = 15), Group II-CP (n = 15) and Group III-AP (n = 15). Peripheral blood samples and gingival tissue samples were collected for MPO gene polymorphism and telomerase expression, respectively, for detection by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of AG and AA genotypes in the MPO gene polymorphism were more common in the AP subjects when compared to the controls. The m-RNA expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) was undetectable in the gingival tissue of the control group. Its expression in AP subjects was significantly higher than that of CP group (83.61 ± 2.94 in CP and 104.27 ± 6.06 in AP) (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that MPO-463G/A may be associated with increased risk of AP. The level of tissue hTERT was elevated in AP subjects as compared to CP and healthy control groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontia, Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Kundu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Debabrata
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontia, Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Bandyopadhyay
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prasanta
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontia, Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Nair
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vineet
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontia, Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Garg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anshul
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Peerless Hospital and B.K Roy Research Centre, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Saha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arindam
authors.affiliation: Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Peerless Hospital and B.K Roy Research Centre, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Das
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Satadal
keywords: Aggressive periodontitis; chronic periodontitis; myeloperoxidase; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; telomerase; text