Association of human leukocyte antigens Class I and Class II antigens with chronic periodontitis in East India

CONTEXT: Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) have an important role in the determination of susceptibility and resistance to periodontal diseases in humans, which may vary from population to population. AIMS: The aim of this study was to find out the association of HLA Classes I and II genes with chronic periodontitis in East Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study design, a total of sixty participants of chronic periodontitis (CP) (mean age: 44.12 ± 5.85) and sixty subjects of periodontal disease-free controls (NP) Periodontitis free controls (mean age 41.85 ± 7.71) were analyzed for their various HLA combinations using serologic (microlymphocytotoxicity test) method. The results are further compared with the HLA profile of 100 samples of blood donors for which periodontal status was unknown. All the data were statistically analyzed by applying Chi-square test, RESULTS: HLA-B7 (P = 0.003), DR7 (P = 0.001), DR53 (P = 0.001), and DQ3 (P = 0.001) were identified as susceptible phenotypes to CP, whereas HLA-A1 (P = 0.010), A3 (P = 0.001), and Cw4 (P = 0.001) phenotypes were identified to be associated with disease resistance. CONCLUSION: The HLA-B7, DR7, DR53, and DQ3 alleles may represent as risk factors for CP in Eastern Population of India, whereas HLA-A1, A3, and Cw4 may indicate to protective factors for CP of the same.