Four tumor necrosis factor alpha genes polymorphisms and periodontitis risk in a Chinese population

Background

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of generalized aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and chronic periodontitis (CP). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association of four TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms (−1031T/C, −857C/T, −308G/A and −238G/A) with susceptibility to AgP and CP in a Chinese population.

Methods

A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in in patients with CP (n = 180), AgP (n = 180) and healthy controls (n = 180). Gene promoter polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) assay. Genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.

Results

TNF-alpha −1031CC genotype was significantly higher [odds ratio (OR) = 2.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03, 5.43; P = 0.04] in patients with CP compared with healthy controls. TNF-alpha −308AA genotype was significantly higher (OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.09, 6.73; P = 0.03) in patients with AgP compared with healthy controls. No association was found of TNF-alpha −857C/T and −238G/A polymorphisms with susceptibility to AgP or CP.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated that TNF-alpha −1031CC genotype was a risk factor for CP, and that TNF-alpha −308AA genotype was a risk factor for AgP. But there is a lack of association of TNF-alpha −857C/T and −238G/A polymorphisms with susceptibility to AgP or CP in a Chinese population.