Genetic polymorphism of MUC7 in individuals with aggressive or chronic periodontitis

J Oral Sci. 2011 Dec;53(4):445-9. doi: 10.2334/josnusd.53.445.

Abstract

Individuals with periodontitis exhibit differential expression of mucin-glycoprotein-2 (MG2), a protein encoded by the MUC7 gene. It is well known that MG2 exerts bactericidal activity as well as exhibiting genetic polymorphism involving a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR). In the present study, we assessed the distribution of allelic variants of the MUC7 gene in 22 individuals with aggressive periodonitis, 68 with chronic periodonitis, and 87 without periodonitis. Oral mucosal cells were collected, the DNA was extracted, and specific primers were used to amplify the region encoding the MUC7 tandem repeats (TRs). Polymerase chain reaction products were subjected to electrophoresis and analyzed on polyacrylamide gels stained with silver nitrate. Although the percentage distribution of homozygosity (6-6TR) and heterozygosity (5-6TR) showed variation among the groups, the observed differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05; Fisher's Exact Test). The present results indicate that the expression of different numbers of TRs in this salivary mucin in the oral environment does not interfere with the etiopathogenesis of aggressive or chronic periodontitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aggressive Periodontitis / genetics*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Chronic Periodontitis / genetics*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Epithelial Cells / chemistry
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minisatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Mouth Mucosa / chemistry
  • Mouth Mucosa / cytology
  • Mucins / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • MUC7 protein, human
  • Mucins
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides