IADR Abstract Archives

Catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT) gene polymorphism in temporomandibular disorders (TMD)

Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are defined as a cluster of symptoms and signs involving masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joints (TMJs) or both; they are major causes of non-dental pain in the orofacial region. Catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT), which is involved in catecholamines metabolism, has been reported to modulate pain sensitivity in TMD. Our study aimed to evaluate the role of COMT gene variants as potential risk factors in a group of patients affected with chronic pain of the masticatory muscles.

Methods: We screened COMT gene, by sequence analysis, in a large group of TMD patients with chronic myofascial pain condition (n=50; 44 females and 6 males) and controls (n=120; 80 females and 40 males) from the Campania area (Italy). Comparison of allele frequencies of COMT polymorphisms detected in patients and in controls was performed by χ² test. Haploblocks of polymorphisms in COMT gene were investigated by Haploview software. The role of COMT gene variants both in RNA or in protein structure modification was investigated, respectively, by m-fold and NPS@ (Network Protein Sequence @nalysis).

Results: We detected 18 new ( 6 in P2, 1 in exon 1, 3 in P1, 1 in exon 3, 1 in intron 3, 3 in intron 4 and 3 in 3'UTR) and 22 previously described variants in COMT gene. Three variants were more frequent in patients than in controls (rs4646310 AA or GA vs GG, p=0.04; rs165656 GC or CC vs GG, p=0.02; and rs165722 TC or TT vs CC, p=0.01); in particular TMD patients bearing rs165656 C allele (genotypes CC or GC) or rs165722 T allele (genotypes CT or TT) were further at risk for headache (OR=5,0; C.I.: 1,3-19,6) .

Conclusion: Our data suggest that genetic variants in the COMT gene could exert a role in TMD susceptibility.

Grants from: Ceinge-Regione Campania (convenzione 2007) and MIUR P.S. 35-126/IND.


IADR/AADR/CADR General Session
2009 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session (Miami, Florida)
Miami, Florida
2009
1428
Neuroscience / TMJ
  • Michelotti, Ambrosina  ( Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, N/A, Italy )
  • Toriello, Mario  ( Ceinge SCarl and Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, N/A, Italy )
  • Liguori, Luciano  ( Ceinge SCarl and Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, N/A, Italy )
  • D'antò, Vincenzo  ( Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Naples, Naples, N/A, Italy )
  • Stellato, Anna  ( Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Naples, Naples, N/A, Italy )
  • Zagari, Adriana  ( Ceinge SCarl and Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, N/A, Italy )
  • Sacchetti, Lucia  ( Ceinge SCarl and Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, N/A, Italy )
    • Poster Session
    Neuroscience Pathobiology
    04/02/2009