The Antimicrobial Peptide DEFB1 Is Associated with Caries

Ozturk A., Famili P., Vieira A. R.

JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH, vol.89, no.6, pp.631-636, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 89 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/0022034510364491
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.631-636
  • Keywords: periodontal disease, dental caries, association, beta defensin, polymorphism, BETA-DEFENSIN 1, DENTAL-CARIES, EXPRESSION, GENE, BETA-DEFENSIN-1, POLYMORPHISMS, CELLS
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Genetics is an important component in the determination of individual susceptibility to caries and periodontal diseases. Since beta defensin 1 (DEFB1) localizes in the oral cavity, we tested if variation in DEFB1 is associated with caries and periodontitis. We analyzed 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in DEFB1 in DNA samples from unrelated individuals. Carrying a copy of the variant allele of the DEFB1 marker rs11362 (G-20A) increased the DMFT and DMFS scores more than five-fold. Also, carrying a copy of the variant allele of the DEFB1 marker rs179946 (G-52A) correlated with low DMFT scores. We found a high-caries-experience haplotype (GCA), which increased DMFT scores two-fold, and a low-caries-experience haplotype (ACG), which decreased DMFT scores two-fold, in the DEFB1 promoter. No association between DEFB1 genetic markers and periodontal disease was found. Our results suggest that functional polymorphisms of DEFB1 are potential markers for caries.