A non-synonymous lactotransferrin gene polymorphism and dental caries in 12-year-old children from the West Pomeranian region in Poland

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries is an infectious disease affecting 60–90% of children around the world and therefore is the most common chronic disease in childhood. Lactotransferrin, encoded by gene, is a salivary protein that limits microbial growth. The c.140A>G transition in the LTF gene (rs1126478), which results in a change from lysine (K) to arginine (R) at amino acid position 47 of lactotransferrin protein (p.K47R), significantly decreases bactericidal activity against Streptococcus mutans. Therefore, this raises the question of whether LTF: c.140A>G polymorphism is associated with risk of caries in Polish children with permanent dentition.

Materials and methods: The rs1126478 LTF polymorphism was identified by sequencing genomic DNA isolated from buccal epithelial cells of 210 12-year-old children of European-descent from West Pomerania in Poland (59 rural children and 151 urban children). In the studied subjects, the decay-missing-filled teeth (DMFT) index ranged 0–14, and children with a DMFT value of 0 were treated as caries-free subjects (control group).

Results: The caries frequency and mean DMFT in rural children were significantly higher than in urban children. Multiple logistic regression analysis, with adjustment for gender and place of permanent residence, revealed no significant association between LTF polymorphism and risk of caries.

Conclusions: Our study shows that residence in rural areas, but not LTF c.140A>G polymorphism, is a risk factor for caries in 12-year-old children from West Pomerania.