The association of Fcγ receptor IIIb genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to periodontitis in Taiwanese individuals

P>Aim The allelic polymorphism of Fc gamma RIIIb, the neutrophil-specific receptor involved in the phagocytosis of immunoglobulin G-opsonized bacteria, has functionally distinct capacities that are important in host defence mediated by neutrophils. The aim of this study was to identify whether the polymorphism of Fc gamma RIIIb is associated with periodontitis in Taiwanese individuals. Materials and methods This case-control study included of 93 aggressive periodontitis (AgP) patients, 372 chronic periodontitis (CP) patients and 158 healthy controls (HC). The Fc gamma RIIIb genotypes were determined by PCR using allele-specific primers. The risk for periodontitis associated with genotypes was calculated as the odds ratio (OR). Results A significant difference was observed in the distribution of the Fc gamma RIIIb genotype between either AgP and HC, or AgP and CP, but not between CP and HC. The OR for carriage of the NA2 allele (NA1NA2+NA2NA2 versus NA1NA1) in AgP was 3.27 [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.57-7.51, p=0.0027] and 2.94 (95% CI=1.49-6.48, p=0.0037), as compared with HC and CP. After adjusting for possible confounding factors, the association was still significant. Conclusions The results of the present study suggest that subjects carrying at least one copy of the Fc gamma RIIIb-NA2 allele might be associated with susceptibility to AgP. However, the clinical implications of the Fc gamma RIIIb allelic polymorphism should be determined by further studies.