IL-10 -1082*A Allele: a Risk Factor for Gingivitis in Children

Background: The role of IL-10 gene polymorphisms at position –1082 has been investigated in several human diseases. These studies have shown that the -1082 *A allele is associated with decreased production of IL-10, and is a risk factor for bowel disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and chronic hepatitis. On the other hand, the –1082*G allele has been found to have a protective role against inflammation and to increase longevity in men. Objectives: To investigate the frequencies of the –1082*A allele in gingivitis in Caucasian children aged 8 to 12 years. Methods: 168 subjects from University Dental Hospital of Manchester (UDHM) were enrolled in this study. According to gingival and bleeding on probing indices, 46 children were classified as controls, and 122 as children with different levels of gingivitis. ARMS-PCR was used for genotyping IL-10 polymorphisms. ÷2 tests were carried out to test the association between alleles, genotype frequencies and the severity of gingivitis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the role of IL-10 gene polymorphisms at position –1082 in the severity of gingivitis while adjusting for potential confounders such as plaque, age, and gender. Results: An increased risk of having gingivitis was found in –1082*A genotype positive children (GA, AA) 66% versus 46% in A allele negatives (P=0.014). The –1082* A allele was more frequent in children with gingivitis (43% versus 28% in controls, P= 0.011). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the –1082*A allele remained a significant risk factor for gingivitis in children regardless of plaque (P=0.026). Conclusion: These findings provide evidence of an association between the –1082*A allele and the severity of gingivitis in Caucasian children.