'Interleukin-4 gene polymorphism and its relation to periodontal disease in a Brazilian population of African heritage'.

摘要

OBJECTIVES: Host modifying factors, such as genetic predisposition, may increase severity of periodontitis. Genetic polymorphisms in interleukin-4 (IL-4) genes seem to influence host response to microbial challenge. Two IL-4 polymorphisms were found in association with asthma and atopy, and later with aggressive periodontitis in Caucasians. There seems to be a trend for racial differences regarding polymorphisms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate if these IL-4 polymorphisms were associated with periodontal disease in a Brazilian population of African heritage. METHODS: Sixty patients were divided into two groups: periodontitis group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) Blood samples were taken and genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Identification of 70 bp repeat polymorphism in intron 2 and in the -590 position of the promoter region was performed through PCR-RFLP and electrophoresis in agarose gel. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the genotype frequencyof the polymorphisms between control and periodontitis group. Chi square test and Mann-Whitney test were used for statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the studied IL-4 polymorphisms were not related to periodontal disease susceptibility in this African-American Brazilian population.