α2 Integrin +807 polymorphism in drug-induced gingival overgrowth

α2 integrin on fibroblasts is reported to play an important role in the induction of drug-induced gingival overgrowth, which is characterized by excessive accumulation of type I collagen in gingival connective tissue. Silent polymorphism 807 T/C within the α2 integrin gene is associated with high/low α2 integrin expression. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that expression of α2 integrin 807 T/C polymorphism correlates with drug-induced gingival overgrowth. A case-control study comparing 136 subjects taking calcium channel blockers (72 with vs. 64 without drug-induced gingival overgrowth) demonstrated that the frequency of the +807 C allele was significantly higher in the case group than in the controls (odds ratio, 3.61; 95% confidence interval, 2.14 – 6.10; P < 0.05). The present findings suggest that the α2 +807 C allele is one of the genetic risk factors for drug-induced gingival overgrowth.