The Association of HLA-A Gene Polymorphisms with Chronic Periodontitis in Iraqi patients

Background: There is growing evidence that genetic aspects play a role in the onset and severity of periodontitis. However, numerous studies have pointed to the contribution of the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) alleles as a potential genetic factor in aetiopathogenesis of periodontitis. Objective: To investigate the association of human leukocyte antigens class I genotype (HLA-A) and the susceptibility and severity of chronic periodontitis in Iraqi patients.  Patients and Methods: The study groups included 50 patients with chronic periodontitis and 20 healthy controls with clinically healthy periodontium. Periodontal parameters used in this study were plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Five ml of venous blood were collected from each participant. DNA was extracted from blood samples, and HLA-A genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-SSO). Results: The present data revealed that the frequencies of HLA-A*33 was significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (P= 0.0268). Conclusion: This study suggests that HLA-A*33allele may contribute to the increased susceptibility to chronic periodontitis

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Gene Polymorphisms in Iraqi patients with Chronic Periodontitis

Background: Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of bacterial etiology that results in the destruction of tooth supporting tissues, tooth mobility, and tooth loss. The inflammatory response of the periodontal tissues to infection is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. The polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has been reported to influence the expression of TNF-α, thereby playing a role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Objective: To study the genotyping of tumor necrosis factor-α at position (-308) and to find out whether any associations exist between the severity of periodontitis and the gene polymorphisms. Patients and Methods: The study groups included 50 patients with chronic periodontitis and 20 healthy controls with clinically healthy periodontium with an age range of 25-50. Everyone were analyzed for polymorphism of TNF-α gene at position (-308). Periodontal parameters used in this study were plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Five ml of venous blood was collected from all patients and controls. DNA was extracted from blood samples, and then the results of electrophoresis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products for this cytokine were subjected for sequencing and to locate the positions of possible mutations. Results: The results of sequencing for the tumor necrosis factor-α gene showed higher frequency of mutations in patient samples as compared to healthy control samples. A highly significant difference was found in the frequency of mutations among the six samples (4 patients and 2 controls) p=0.0002. Conclusion: The results of this study indicates that the (-308) polymorphism in TNF-α gene is associated with the susceptibility to chronic periodontitis

Angiogenesis and MMP-2expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma&Verrucous Carcinoma and its Correlation with Clinicopathological Parameters

Background: An important step of tumor progression in which Matrix metalloproteinase have been implicated is angiogenesis, because these enzymes degrade the extracellular matrix and provide a permissive microenvironment for the growth of new blood vessels. The present study conducted to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression ofMatrixmetalloproteinase -2(MMP-2) andangiogenic marker (CD34) in Oralsquamous cell carcinoma(SCC)versus verrucous carcinoma(VC) and to correlate their expressions with the clinicopathological parameters. Material & Methods: MMP-2 and CD34 expression was examined immunohistochemically in twenty four paraffin tissue blocks of squamous cell carcinoma and verrucous carcinoma (twelve cases of each).  Results: All cases of Oral SCC exhibited positive   immunostaining for MMP-2, while only one case of VC showed –ve expression. Interestingly all cases of VC showed –ve MMP-2 immunostaining of the basal cell layer. Generally lymphatic vessels were more than blood vessels in both VC&SCC cases. The mean MMP-2 immunoexpression was (59.00%) for both stage I &stage II, while the higher CD34 immuno expression was in stage I. The mean expression of MMP-2 was higher in well differentiated OSCCs, while for CD34 it was higher in poorly differentiated OSCCs followed by moderately differentiated, then well differentiated, however no statistically significant difference was found. Non- significant correlation was found concerning the expression of both markers for both lesions. Conclusion: No statistical correlation was found between MMP-2 expression and angiogenesis in OSCC and OVC