Might there be a link between MBL and dental caries?

Objective: Mannose binding lectin (MBL) plays a critical role in the immun response in early childhood before specific immune protection develops. In humans, low levels of MBL are caused by one or three structural mutations found within exon 1 of MBL gene and such mutations have been shown to be associated with a generalized increased risk for infections. Dental caries is an infectious disease which caused by principally mutans group streptococci. MBL has ability to bind the surface of specisic organisms such as streptococci, Staphylococcus sp, and Klebsiella sp. We investigated whether there may be an association between MBL variants and dental caries in the DNA samples from 40 controls (female and male ratio: 1/1, mean age 10.8) and 42 children with carious teeth (female and male ratio: 1.47/1, mean age 9.78). Methods: Two structural gene mutations in exon 1 of MBL gene (codon 54-BshNI and codon 57-MboII) were studied by PCR-RFLP method. Results: The frequency of codon 57 mutation was found to be zero for two different groups whereas the frequency of codon 54 (allele B) was found 12% in children with carious teeth and %11 in control group. Conclusion: As a result of this study, the MBL codon 54 genotype and allele frequencies between in children with carious teeth and in control group was compared and no statistically difference was observed in each group. This is the first report that investigate the possible association between MBL variants and dental caries. It needs to be further research different susceptibility genes for different pathogens.