Association of mitochondrial DNA displacement loop polymorphisms and aggressive periodontitis in a Chinese population: a pilot study

Abstract

To examine whether certain mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups and/or alterations affect susceptibility to aggressive periodontitis (AgP), we analyzed the mtDNA D-Loop region in a Han Chinese population. The mtDNA haplogroups were analyzed in 58 patients with AgP and 50 periodontally healthy controls. The frequency of haplogroups A in AgP group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p = 0.007). Furthermore, the frequency of haplogroup D was higher in the control group than that in AgP group (p = 0.007). The frequencies of D-Loop polymorphisms m.16126T > C, m.16290C > T and m.152 T > C were significantly higher in patients with AgP compared with controls (p = 0.029, 0.014 and 0.022, respectively). Additionally, the frequencies of three other D-Loop polymorphisms, m.16223C > T m.489 T > C and m.515CA deletion (del) were significantly lower in patients with AgP compared with controls (p = 0.042, 0.003 and 0.026, respectively). Our study showed for the first time, an association between AgP and mtDNA haplogroups. Haplogroups A was implicated as a risk factor for AgP, while haplogroups D exhibited a protective effect in this disease. These observations may provide a new perspective on the study of the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

• AgP
• D-loop
• haplogroup
• hypervariable region
• mtDNA

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, for providing relative platform and instruments.

Declaration of interest

This study was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (30872883; 81271148). The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

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