Generalised Periodontitis: Examining TAS2R16 Serum Levels and Common Gene Polymorphisms (rs860170, rs978739, rs1357949)

Albertas Kriauciunas; Greta Gedvilaite; Akvile Bruzaite; Gediminas Zekonis; Dainius Razukevicius; Rasa Liutkeviciene

doi:10.3390/biomedicines12020319

Generalised Periodontitis: Examining TAS2R16 Serum Levels and Common Gene Polymorphisms (rs860170, rs978739, rs1357949)

Biomedicines. 2024 Jan 30;12(2):319. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12020319.

Authors

Albertas Kriauciunas¹, Greta Gedvilaite², Akvile Bruzaite², Gediminas Zekonis¹, Dainius Razukevicius³, Rasa Liutkeviciene²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Prosthodontics, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukilėlių Str. 51, LT-50106 Kaunas, Lithuania.
² Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių Str. 2, LT-50009 Kaunas, Lithuania.
³ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių Str. 2, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the associations between TAS2R16 serum levels and common gene rs860170, rs978739, and rs1357949 polymorphisms in patients affected by generalized periodontitis. The study enrolled 590 patients: 280 patients with periodontitis and 310 healthy controls as a reference group. Patients underwent periodontal examination and radiographic analysis to confirm the periodontitis diagnosis. Blood samples were collected, and the DNA salting-out method was used for DNA extraction from peripheral venous blood. Genotyping of TAS2R16 (rs860170, rs978739, and rs1357949) was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and serum level analysis was performed for both periodontitis-affected patients and reference group subjects. The analysis of TAS2R16 rs860170 (TT, CT, and CC) showed a statistically significant difference between generalized periodontitis and the reference group (41.8%, 58.2%, and 0% vs. 38.7%, 56.1%, and 5.2%, p < 0.001). TAS2R16 rs860170 (TT, CT, and CC) showed a statistically significant difference between males in generalized periodontitis and reference groups (38.4%, 61.6%, and 0% vs. 32.9%, 56.6%, and 10.5%, p = 0.002). Female-specific analysis showed that the TAS2R16 rs978739 C allele was more frequent in generalized periodontitis compared to the reference group (37.5% vs. 28.7%, p = 0.016). Subjects aged 70 years and older demonstrated a statistically significant difference in TAS2R16 rs860170 (TT, CT, and CC) between generalized periodontitis and the reference group (42.8%, 57.2%, and 0% vs. 38.6%, 53.8%, and 7.6%, p = 0.003). TAS2R16 serum levels were elevated in generalized periodontitis compared to the reference group (0.112 (0.06) ng/mL vs. 0.075 (0.03) ng/mL, p = 0.002). Females carrying the TAS2R16 rs978739 C allele were more prone to generalized periodontitis development. Associations were found between TAS2R16 rs860170 polymorphisms, elevated TAS2R16 serum levels, and generalized periodontitis development.

Keywords: TAS2R16; periodontitis; polymorphisms; serum levels.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.