Association of Interleukin‐10 Gene Polymorphisms With Severe Generalized Chronic Periodontitis

Background: Interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), an anti‐inflammatory cytokine, plays a role in periodontal disease by inhibiting synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and stimulating protective antibody production. Genetic polymorphisms in the IL‐10 gene might be useful as a marker to diagnose susceptibility to periodontitis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between IL‐10 gene polymorphisms and severe generalized chronic periodontitis (CP) in a Turkish population. Methods: Samples of venous blood and DNA were obtained from 75 patients with severe generalized CP and 73 healthy subjects. The IL‐10 promoter sequences at positions −597 and −824 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and polymorphisms were detected by restriction enzyme cleavage. Genotype and allele frequencies were calculated, and data were analyzed using the χ 2 test. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in frequencies of genotypes (AA/CC + CA: P = 0.00007, odds ratio = 12.37, 95% confidence intervals = 2.74 to 7.77; CC/CA + AA: P = 0.001, odds ratio = 3.05, 95% confidence intervals = 1.47 to 6.33) and alleles ( P = 0.0002, odds ratio = 2.61, 95% confidence intervals = 1.52 to 4.51) at position −597 C to A between patients with severe generalized CP and healthy controls, whereas there was no significant difference in genotypes and allele frequencies at position −824 C to T between patients with CP and healthy subjects. Conclusion: Within the limitations of sample selection and number, the IL‐10 gene polymorphism at position −597 seems to be associated with severe generalized CP.