Elsevier

Cytokine

Volume 28, Issue 1, 7 October 2004, Pages 29-34
Cytokine

Gene polymorphisms in pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with systemic inflammation in patients with severe periodontal infections

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2004.06.005Get rights and content

Abstract

The inflammatory response to chronic infections such as periodontitis may be central to the systemic implications of these diseases. This study examined the possible association between specific gene polymorphisms and the systemic inflammatory response in individuals suffering from severe generalized periodontitis. Ninety-four subjects with periodontitis were genotyped for polymorphisms in IL-1A (−889), IL-1B (−511, +3954), TNF-A (−308), IL-6 (−174) and TLR4 (−299, −399) genes. We found that the genotypes for IL-1A or IL-6 are associated with higher levels of serum IL-6 (P < 0.03) and serum CRP (P < 0.05), similarly the TNF-A genotype is associated with higher levels of serum IL-6 (P < 0.05) after correction for age, body mass index, gender, ethnicity and cigarette smoking. Systemic inflammatory responses are higher in severe periodontitis patients carrying rare alleles for functional inflammatory gene polymorphisms. These results suggest that cytokine genotypes are important determinants of the systemic inflammatory response in subjects with periodontitis. Genetic polymorphism therefore, may in part explain the reported association between periodontitis and systemic disease.

Section snippets

Demographics and periodontal infection

Fifty-four percent of subjects were females; they were 46 ± 9 years of age, 42% were current smokers, and their body mass index was 25.3 ± 3.8 kg/m2. In terms of ethnicity 65% of subjects were European Caucasians, 20% Asians and 15% African or Afro-Caribbeans. All subjects included had severe generalized periodontitis as indicated by mean full mouth CAL of 4.9 ± 1.1 mm, PPD of 4.4 ± 0.6 mm, presence of 77 ± 23 periodontal pockets >4 mm, and a full mouth bleeding score of 63.5% ± 16.4%. Infection was assessed

Discussion

The data reported in this study indicated that in patient with severe periodontitis, serum IL-6 concentrations were significantly associated with the carriage of allele 2 for functional polymorphisms in the IL-1A, TNF-A and IL-6 genes after correcting for age, gender, ethnicity and smoking status. Similarly, serum CRP concentrations were associated with allele 2 in the IL-1A and IL-6 genes. In the subject group no medical condition other than severe generalized periodontitis was detected

Experimental population

Ninety-four subjects referred to the Department of Periodontology of the Eastman Dental Hospital, University College London, for treatment of severe periodontitis gave informed consent to participate in this study. They were characterised by the presence of deep periodontal pockets (5 mm or deeper with radiographic evidence of alveolar bone loss) and bleeding upon probing involving more than 50% of the dentition. Subjects were examined at a screening visit and a full medical history was

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Periodontal Research Fund of the Eastman Dental Institute. The kind assistance of the clinical staff of the Department of Periodontology of the Eastman Dental Institute and Hospital, University College London, is gratefully acknowledged.

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