The interleukin-10 promoter haplotype ATA is a putative risk factor for aggressive periodontitis

Interleukin-10 has been described as an anti-inflammatory cytokine and a B-cell proliferation factor. Promoter polymorphisms of the interleukin-10 gene have been associated with altered interleukin-10 expression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate three polymorphisms at positions -1082G>A, -819C>T and -590C>A in patients with generalized chronic periodontitis (n = 27) and generalized aggressive periodontitis (n = 32) in comparison with periodontitis-free controls (n = 34).

Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Distributions of single alleles, genotypes and haplotypes were calculated by the chi-square test. Risk factor analyses were carried out by logistic regression. Subgingival bacteria were subjected to molecular biological analyses using the micro-Ident test.

The combination ATA/ATA was found only in patients with aggressive periodontitis (15.6 vs. 0.0%, p = 0.023). Taking into account age, gender, smoking and plaque level, an increased odds ratio (3.7, p = 0.04) for aggressive periodontitis was shown for subjects with the haplotype ATA. Prevotella intermedia was found to be decreased in ACC- positive (41.3 vs. 66.7%, p = 0.022), ATA-positive (33.3 vs. 57.1%, p = 0.032) and ACC/ATA-positive (20.0 vs. 55.9%, p = 0.002) individuals. In GCC/GCC-positive subjects, P. intermedia occurred more frequently (86.7 vs. 42.3%, p = 0.002).

The haplotype ATA, which is known as a 'low interleukin-10 producer' is a putative risk indicator for generalized aggressive periodontitis.