+17 C/G polymorphism in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 gene and its association with periodontitis

Introduction
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia

Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between +17 C/G polymorphism in MMP-8 and perio- dontitis in an Indonesian sample population.

Material and methods
Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the +17 C/G polymorphism in MMP-8 was conducted in stored genomic DNA samples from 100 subjects with periodontitis and 100 healthy controls. Patients were examined in a previous study by a periodontics and diagnosed as periodontitis based on anamnesis and clinical examination (periodontal pocket depth ≥ 4 mm and the presence of clinical attachment loss.

Results
The frequencies of the genotypes or alleles in the periodontitis and control groups were not significantly different (genotype, p = 0.283; alleles, p = 0.11). Any remaining trend toward higher frequencies of the polymorphic genotypes or alleles in the periodontitis group was explained by the adjustment for age.

Conclusions
The results showed no significant association between the +17 C/G polymorphism in MMP-8 and the risk of periodontitis in the Indonesian population. No change in the significance is expected even with a considerably larger sample.