Association between HLA molecules and stage III/IV grade C periodontitis in a Moroccan population: A case‒control study

Abstract

Background: Literature data supported the important role played by HLA molecules in predisposing to periodontitis. The present study evaluated the identification of possible associations between HLA class I and II phenotypes and periodontitis Stage III/IV Grade C in a Moroccan population.Methods: A sample comprised 26 patients aged between 15 to 30 years; diagnosed with periodontitis Stage III/IV Grade C (Case group) and 202 patients ethnically similar to the case group (Control group). Patients underwent phenotyping for HLA class I molecules using the BIOTEST microlymphocytic plate technique and genotyping for HLA DR molecules. Bivariate analysis was performed using Chi2 test with a significance level of p < 0.05%.Results: The results of this analysis showed a variable distribution of A alleles, without any specificity being found predominantly in periodontitis cases compared with controls. B21 allele was found with a lower phenotypic frequency (10.34%) in periodontitis cases compared with controls (31.18%), (c2 = 5.40 and p = 0.02). The phenotypic frequency of the DR6 allele appears to be significantly lower in periodontitis cases (11.52%) compared with controls (33.16%), (c2 = 5.07 and p = 0.024).Conclusion: The present case-control study reported a negative association between B21 and DR6 alleles and Stage III/IV Grade C Moroccan periodontitis cases compared with controls. This may explain the particular profile of Stage III/IV Grade C periodontitis in Moroccan patients.

Keywords: HLA Antigens, genetics,, periodontitis,, risk