Polymorphisms in the interleukin-10 gene and chronic periodontitis in patients with atherosclerotic and aortic aneurysmal vascular diseases

BACKGROUND: Chronic periodontitis (CP), atherosclerotic and aortic aneurysmal vascular diseases (VD) are chronic inflammatory conditions with multifactorial etiologies, including involvement of predisposing genetic factors. In a previous study, polymorphisms in the gene for the anti-inflammatory interleukin-1 receptor antagonist were associated with CP in patients with VD. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates whether polymorphisms in the gene for the anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL10) could be related to CP in the same manner. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with VD of whom 35 had CP were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL10 −592 (rs1800872), −819 (rs1800871), and −1,082 (rs1800896) gene by Taqman rtPCR method and by DNA sequencing. RESULTS: The C alleles and C/C genotypes of IL10 −592 and IL10 −819 frequencies were significantly higher, while the frequencies of the IL10 −592 (C/A) and IL10 −819 (C/T) heterozygote genotypes were significantly lower in the VD group with CP compared to those without CP. The IL10 haplotype ATA frequency (−1,082, −819, −592) showed a trend to a significant difference between the two groups indicating protection against CP. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings suggest an independent association of genetic polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene locus with CP in patients with VD. Development of CP and the implications on vascular disease emphasize the importance of early detection and adequate treatment of periodontitis among these patients.