The association of EGF rs2237051 variant, serum EGF levels and generalized aggressive periodontitis: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a pro-inflammatory small peptide that stimulates cell growth, proliferation and differentiation through binding to its receptor. EGF rs2237051 and serum EGF levels have been demonstrated to be related with a variety of diseases, including several tumors and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association of the EGF rs2237051 variant and serum EGF levels in Chinese patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted among 216 patients with GAgP and 138 healthy controls. The clinical parameters of plaque index, probing depth, attachment loss and bleeding index were recorded. The EGF rs2237051 polymorphism was genotyped using time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and serum EGF levels were determined. Logistic and linear regression models were used to investigate the association between the genotypes of EGF rs2237051, serum EGF levels and GAgP risk. RESULTS: The AA genotype of EGF rs2237051 showed higher risk for GAgP than the combined genotypes GG and AG (adjusted OR = 1.65, 95% CI [1.06–2.57]). Increased serum EGF levels were associated with GAgP (adjusted OR = 1.18, 95% CI [1.14–1.22]). Moreover, the serum EGF level for the AA genotype was significantly higher than that for the AG/GG genotypes in patients with GAgP (adjusted β = 4.70, 95% CI [2.09–7.31]). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that EGF rs2237051 variant and the increased level of serum EGF were associated with the risk of GAgP, the serum EGF was up-regulated in patients with GAgP. It was indicated that serum EGF might be a biomarker of GAgP and EGF rs2237051 may be related to the genetic background of GAgP.