Association of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Gene Polymorphism with Chronic Periodontitis /A Preliminary Study Among Egyptian Population.

Abstract

Chronic periodontitis is the most common form of periodontal diseases. The progression rate may be influenced by local, systemic conditions and environmental factors that can alter the normal host response to bacterial plaque and affect the susceptibility to disease. Genetic factors may affect the host response to infection and could lead to noticeable changes in its clinical severity. Over the past decade, a strong body of evidence has been gathering regarding the role of gene polymorphisms in susceptibility to periodontal diseases. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone that interacts with its nuclear receptor, vitamin D receptor (VDR), to regulate different biological processes, such as bone metabolism and immune response modulation. In addition, VDR plays a role in the action of vitamin D by regulating its gene expression. Many polymorphisms have been identified in the VDR gene. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of the polymorphisms (TaqI , BsmI and FokI) of the VDR gene with chronic periodontitis among a sample of Egyptian population as a preliminary study.