OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between chronic periodontitis and the genetic polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor gene and estrogen receptor gene.

METHODSClinical parameters including probing depth, clinical attachment loss, sulcus bleeding index and tooth movement were measured by fluoride probe. Genomic DNA from peripheral venous blood was extracted with saturant sodium chloride, and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was applied to examine the Apa I, Bsm I, Taq I polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor genes and the Xba I and Pvu II polymorphisms of the estrogen receptor genes. The results were analyzed by Z-score test and mean square analysis.

RESULTSForty-three point four percent of chronic periodontitis patients took vitamin D receptor BB genotype, the rate in healthy controls was 30.0%. 39.6% of chronic periodontitis patients took estrogen receptor XX genotype, the rate in healthy controls was 20.0%. The people who took BBXX genotype had the worst periodontal conditions among all chronic periodontitis patients.

CONCLUSIONSVitamin D receptor allele B and estrogen receptor allele X are susceptible alleles for chronic periodontitis. The synergistic effects of the two receptor susceptible alleles may promote chronic periodontitis.