OBJECTIVETo determine whether polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor (ER) genes are associated with chronic periodontitis in a Chinese population overall the Shanxi territory.

METHODS109 patients with chronic periodontitis and 99 healthy controls were recmited in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from oral mucosa swab sample of each subject by the Chelex-100 method. Determination of the ER-alpha and -beta polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), respectively.

RESULTSThe analysis of the Xba I polymorphisms in ER-alpha gene revealed significant differences between patients and controls. The detection frequency of XX genotype was significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis patients than in control subjects. The difference between the female chronic periodontitis patients and healthy controls was statistically significant, but no difference was found between the male patients and controls. Nevertheless, no significant association was noted in the frequency of both Rsa I and Alu I polymorphisms in ER-beta gene between chronic periodontitis and controls.

CONCLUSIONIt is indicated that the ER-alpha XX genotype may be a susceptible indicator for chronic periodontitis in female Han Chinese subjects.