Investigation of interleukin-13 gene polymorphisms in individuals with chronic and generalized aggressive periodontitis in a Taiwanese (Chinese) population

Wu Y-M, Chuang H-L, Ho Y-P, Ho K-Y, Tsai C-C. Investigation of interleukin-13 gene polymorphisms in individuals with chronic and generalized aggressive periodontitis in a Taiwanese (Chinese) population. J Periodont Res 2010; 45: 695–701. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective:  The interleukin-13 (IL-13) −1112 C/T polymorphisms have been analyzed previously in a North European population of patients with aggressive periodontitis. The present study was carried out to investigate the association of polymorphisms in the IL-13 gene with susceptibility to periodontitis in a Taiwanese population. Material and Methods:  The genotyping of IL-13 −1112 C/T polymorphisms in 60 patients with aggressive periodontitis, 204 patients with chronic periodontitis and 95 healthy controls was carried out using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Genotypes and allele frequencies among study groups were compared using Fisher’s exact test (p < 0.05). Pearson’s chi-square test was used for analysis of the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Results:  The distributions of CC genotypes and C alleles between patients with aggressive periodontitis and healthy controls were significantly different (p = 0.034 and 0.046). After adjustment for age, gender, betel nut chewing and smoking status using logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) was 6.45 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.99–23.72, p = 0.003] for aggressive periodontitis. However, the CC genotype was only significantly associated with the risk of aggressive periodontitis in the nonsmoking group (OR = 4.48, 95% CI = 1.31–16.93, p = 0.020). Conclusion:  The CC genotype or C allele appears to increase the risk of developing aggressive periodontitis in Taiwanese subjects.