title: Lactoferrin gene polymorphisms in Italian patients with recurrent tonsillitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent tonsillitis is an oral pathology characterized by inflammation of tonsils. The disease susceptibility depends upon environmental and host factors, specifically the innate immune response, the first line of host defence could play an important role. Among innate immunity members, lactoferrin, known for its antimicrobial properties, was previously correlated with the risk of oral pathology as periodontitis and dental caries.
  
  
  METHODS
  89 Italian children presenting recurrent tonsillitis and 95 healthy children were genotyped for two LTF non-synonymous polymorphisms, called Thr29Ala and Arg47Lys, in order to investigate their potential role in recurrent tonsillitis susceptibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  no different allele, genotype and haplotype frequency distributions were detected comparing patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  data from the current study indicate that LTF polymorphisms might not be involved in recurrent tonsillitis development in our Italian population. However, since the importance of lactoferrin in oral immunity has been previously assessed, further studies should be necessary to unravel the potential role of LTF genetic variants in oral cavity.
authors: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: luisa.zupin@burlo.trieste.it.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Zupin
authors: Department of Life Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Angelelli
authors: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS ''Burlo Garofolo'', Trieste, Italy.
authors: Domenico Leonardo
authors: DL
authors: Grasso
authors: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS ''Burlo Garofolo'', Trieste, Italy.
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Crovella
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007558:Italy; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012008:Recurrence; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C490098:LTF protein, human; D007781:Lactoferrin
keywords: Genetic polymorphisms; Innate immunity; Lactoferrin; Recurrent tonsillitis