Background: Chronic periodontitis (CP) is characterized by an inflammation in the supporting tissues of the teeth caused primarily by bacterial infection. Interleukin 10 (IL10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine whose genetic polymorphisms may influence the expression of the protein.
Objective: In this study we investigated the hypothesis that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter of IL10 gene might be related to CP.
Materials and methods: DNA was obtained from n=67 CP patients and n=43 control subjects. All studied individuals were non-smokers. The -1087 SNP was investigated by DNA sequencing, and the -819 and -592 SNPs by restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR products.
Results: Frequencies of -819 and -592 SNPs showed differences between the control and CP groups. The ACC haplotype was more prevalent in the control group and the ATA haplotype more prevalent in the CP group. The ATA haplotype seemed to increase susceptibility to CP in women (odds ratio (OR)=2.57). The heterozygous haplotype GCC/ACC was predominant in the control group (OR=8.26; p=0.001).
Conclusions: Specific haplotypes and SNPs in IL10 gene are associated with susceptibility to CP in Brazilian patients.