The Fcγ Receptor Genotype as a Severity Factor for Chronic Periodontitis in Japanese Patients

Functional polymorphisms of immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc receptors (FcγR) have been shown to be associated with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) or recurrence of chronic periodontitis (CP) in Japanese patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether FcγR polymorphisms are also associated with severity of CP.

Fifty Japanese non-smoking patients with severe CP and 39 Japanese non-smoking patients with moderate CP were identified according to established clinical criteria, including measurements of probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and alveolar bone loss (BL). FcγR genotypes for 3 bi-allelic polymorphisms (FcγRIIa-R/H131, FcγRIIIa-158V/F, FcγRIIIb-NA1/NA2) were determined in these CP patients and 64 race-matched, non-smoking healthy controls by means of allele-specific polymerase chain reactions.

There was a significant over-representation of FcγRIIIa-158V allele in severe CP patients compared to moderate CP patients (odds ratio 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-4.01, χ ² = 4.86, P = 0.028). In addition, we found a strong association between CP severity and FcγR composite genotype comprising FcγRIIIa-158V plus FcγRIIIb-NA2 (severe CP versus moderate CP: odds ratio 4.69, 95% CI 1.52-15.10, χ ² = 9.35, P = 0.002; severe CP versus healthy controls: odds ratio 4.10, 95% CI 1.62-10.59, χ ² = 11.13, P = 0.0009). Moreover, CP patients positive for the composite genotype exhibited more severe signs of periodontitis than composite genotype-negative individuals (positive versus negative; mean PD: 3.8 mm versus 3.2 mm, P = 0.005; mean CAL: 4.5 mm versus 3.7 mm, P = 0.005; mean % BL: 37.6% versus 29.9%, P = 0.008).

Our results document the FcγRIIIa-158V allele and possibly FcγRIIIb-NA2 to be associated with severity of CP in Japanese patients. J Periodontol 2001;72:1324-1331.