Detecting genetic predisposition to periodontal disease

Abstract: A method and kit for the identification of a patient's genetic polymorphism pattern associated with increased periodontal disease severity is disclosed. The kit includes DNA sample collecting means and means for determining a genetic polymorphism pattern which is then compared to control samples to determine a patient's susceptibility to severe periodontal disease.

Description: This invention relates to a method of detecting a predisposition for severity of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a disease of the hard and soft tissues that support the teeth and is initiated by oral bacteria. Gingivitis is an early stage of the periodontal disease where the gums may become red, swollen and bleed easily. Gingivitis is usually painless and, if not treated, can advance to periodontitis, which may be classified by the magnitude of tissue destruction as mild, moderate, or severe. Periodontitis is primarily a disease of adults and is usually not detectable until after the age of 35. Bacteria that are present in dental plaque initiate periodontal disease. Toxins produced by the bacteria in the plaque activate the body's inflammatory and other immune mechanisms which ultimately leads to the destruction of the bone and gum tissue that support the teeth. As the disease progresses, the gums pull away from the teeth and periodontal pockets are formed which provide a protected environment for the bacteria, thereby causing the cycle to continue. However, some sites do not continue to be active. United States patent 5,328,829 discloses a method for determination of active periodontal disease sites within the oral cavity by measuring interleukin IL-1β at the site. Smoking has been associated with an increased prevalence and severity of periodontitis. However, a significant number of individuals with periodontitis have never smoked. For the past 15 years, there has been evidence that certain forms of periodontitis that affect young children and teenagers are genetically determined. These diseases, which are of extremely low prevalence in the population, produce severe periodontitis in some individuals before the age of puberty and in other individuals between puberty and age 18. The genetic factors that were identified in those cases involved very overt biologic mechanisms that most likely would predispose the individual to multiple health problems. To date, efforts to find the same types of genetic factors in adult forms of periodontitis have not been successful. In spite of the above failures, new evidence emerged beginning in 1990 from studies of identical twins that indicated that genetics play a significant role in the clinical presentation of disease in adult forms of periodontitis (Michalowicz et al., 1991). While the twin studies indicated that there was a genetic component, it was not identified. It would be useful to determine patients who are susceptible to severe adult periodontitis. Genetic testing is now possible (see United States Patents 4,582,788 and 5,110,920) for diseases associated with or caused by one to two genes, once the genes are identified, to determine the risk of a person carrying a given gene for the disease (see for example United States Patents 4,801,531, 4,666,828 and 5,268,267). As with any infection, once initiated, inflammatory and other immune mechanisms of the body come into play (see United States Patent 5,328,829, column 1, for a review). In general, research on inflammatory markers has had very limited success at differentiating periodontitis disease severity and there have been limited and unsuccessful efforts directed to the genetic aspects of the inflammatory response of periodontal disease. Genetic variation at the multiple loci controlling the inflammatory and other immune responses in selected diseases with inflammatory components has been a factor in determining susceptibility to, or severity of, disease. Therefore, it was an objective of the present invention to determine if genetic factors that are associated with inflammatory and other immune responses are correlated with periodontal disease severity. If so, it would be useful to identify the genetic factors and thereby identify patients who are susceptible to severe forms of adult periodontal disease. The present invention therefore provides a method of detecting genetic predisposition to periodontal disease of increased severity by identifying if a subject expresses a genetic polymorphism pattern of the genes that encode IL-1A and IL-1B associated with periodontal disease of increased severity. Subjects so identified can then be treated more aggressively in the early stages of periodontal disease to prevent the occurrence of severe disease. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting genetic predisposition to periodontal disease of increased severity. The method comprises: (a) providing a sample of DNA from a subject; (b) analysing the sample of DNA to determine a genetic polymorphism pattern of the genes that code for interleukins IL-1α and IL-1β; and (c) identifying if the subject expresses a genetic polymorphism pattern associated with periodontal disease of increased severity. Further preferred features of the method according to the present invention are as defined in claims 2 to 9. Severe periodontal disease is defined as set forth in the example herein below. Briefly, severe disease is defined as patients presenting with a history of ≥10 interproximal sites that measure ≥7 mm, with pocket depth (PD) of ≥7 mm occurring on at least eight teeth. In addition, clinical attachment (CAL) measured ≥5 mm on ≥11 sites is seen. The definition further requires that full mouth radiographs taken within the last three years shows ≥7 interproximal sites with ≥50% bone loss on radiographs with a total mouth mean bone loss greater than 30%. The alleles associated with severe disease were identified as IL-1A allele 2 (a thymine (T) at base-889) together with IL-1B ( Taq I)allele 2 (a thymine (T) at base +3954). It was determined that the Odds Ratio (OR) for severe periodontitis is 4.3 for patients carrying at least one copy of IL-1A allele 2 and IL-1B ( Taq I) allele 2 among nonsmokers. In a population of smokers and nonsmokers the OR for a smoker or patients carrying at least one copy of IL-1A allele 2 and IL-1B ( Taq I)allele 2 is 10.06 for having severe disease. The DNA sample is obtained from blood or tissue samples. In a preferred embodiment, the DNA will be obtained from blood cells obtained from a finger prick of the patient with the blood collected on absorbent paper. In a further preferred embodiment, the blood will be collected on a Amplicard™ (University of Sheffield, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, England S10 2JF). The DNA is then isolated from the dried blood spots and then target sequences amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Oligonucleotide DNA primers that target the specific polymorphic DNA region within the genes of interest are prepared so that in the PCR reaction amplification of the target sequences is achieved. This embodiment has the advantage of requiring only a small amount of blood and avoids the necessity for venipuncture or a tissue biopsy. However, other means for collecting DNA and determining polymorphism patterns as known in the art can be used. The amplified DNA sequences from the template DNA are then analysed using restriction enzymes to determine the genetic polymorphisms present in the amplified sequences and thereby provide a genetic polymorphism profile of the patient. Some diseases have prominent inflammatory and other immune components. One of the primary components of the inflammatory and other immune responses is cytokine production. Cytokines are peptide/protein immunomodulators that are produced by activated immune cells including thymus-derived T lymphocytes (T-cells), B lymphocytes and monocyte/macrophages. The cytokines include interleukins (IL-1 through IL-15), colony stimulating factors (CSFs) for granulocytes and/or macrophages (CSF-G, CSF-M, CSF-GM), tumor necrosis factors (TNFs α & β), and interferons (IFN α, β & γ). The basic activity of IL-1 includes the combined activities of IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). (For a review, see Duff, 1993; and Basic and Clinical Immunology, 8th Ed., 1994, Stites, Terr & Parslow, editors, Chapter 9, pgs. 105-123.). United States patent 5,328,829 found IL-1β) at active sites in periodontal disease but did not report any correlation with disease state. Association of a single cytokine polymorphism and disease states have been found as, for example, in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Ulcerative Colitis, Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Mansfield et al., 1994; Verjans et al., 1992; Blakemore et al., 1994; McGuire et al., 1994; McDowell et al., 1995 j Pociot et al., 1992). Specific polymorphisms in DNA sequences coding for cytokines IL-1α and IL-1β were found to be associated with severe periodontal disease. The polymorphisms are as follows: IL-1A : (chromosome 2 at 2q12-14) The alleles of a bi-allelic polymorphism of a single base variation (C/T) at -889 are identified by allele-specific cleavage using a restriction enzyme. The gene is designated IL-1A while the product (cytokine) is designated IL-1α. Allele 1 is C and allele 2 is T at base -889. The full restriction enzyme recognition site is created by introducing a partial site by mutation in the PCR reaction with a modified primer sequence. The site is completed by the sequence of one of the alleles of the polymorphism. After restriction enzyme digestion of the products of the PCR reaction, the DNA is separated electrophoretically by size. From this gel (or a southern blot of it probed with a radioactive internal DNA sequence) the alleles of the polymorphism are identified. The uncut fragment (larger) is the rarer allele in Northern European populations. IL-1B : (chromosome 2; 2q12-14) Two bi-allelic polymorphisms can be typed in two different PCR products using allele-specific cleavage at naturally-occurring sites in the alleles. Allele identification is by size of fragment after restriction digestion and separation in an agarose gel. The gene is designated IL-1B while the product (cytokine) is designated IL-1β. The sites are single base variations (C/T) at -511 (referred to as IL-1B ( Ava I)) and at +3954 (referred to as IL-1B ( Taq I)) and are identified by allele-specific cleavage using restriction enzymes. For each polymorphism allele 1 is C and allele 2 is T. The patient's cytokine polymorphism profile, i.e., allelic distribution, may then be compared to controls. The controls are from patients who are periodontally healthy and from adult nonsevere periodontitis patients and adult severe periodontitis patients. That is, the patient's profile may be compared to healthy people and patients with periodontal disease of different severity according to consensus clinical criteria and the match determines the predisposition towards periodontal disease. In one embodiment, controls are provided that are ethnically matched to accommodate genetic variations within subpopulations. An odds ratio (approximate relative risk) may be derived to test the association between allelic polymorphism pattern (genotype) at these specific loci and development of disease and/or its severity. This provides predictive information that will be used in the clinical management of periodontal disease. The above discussion provides a factual basis for a kit for the identification of a patient's genetic polymorphism pattern associated with increased periodontal disease severity. The identification of those at risk for severe disease allows preventive measures to be initiated prior to disease onset. Further, those patients who have two risk factors, smoking and the susceptible genotype, can be particularly monitored since their risk of severe disease is extremely high. The methods used with and the utility of the present invention can be shown by the following example. EXAMPLE POLYMORPHISM DETERMINATION AND DISEASE ASSOCIATION General Methods Reactions and manipulations involving DNA techniques, unless stated otherwise, were performed as described in Sambrook et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Methodology as set forth in United States patents 4,666,828; 4,801,531; and 5,272,057 and McDowell et al., 1995 are also used unless stated otherwise. Enzymes used in PCR were from GIBCO BRL, thermocyclers were either Perkin-Elmer or Biometra. Restriction enzymes Nco I and Taq I were from Promega (US). Restriction enzymes Ava I and Bsu36I were from NEB (US). Patient Selection and Disease Classification Genetic polymorphisms associated with periodontal disease in adults was determined using the protocol of McDowell et al. (1995). Because of the masking effect of smoking, genetic factors associated with severe disease were determined in nonsmokers. A group of otherwise healthy adults were screened at a dental clinic for the presence of periodontal disease. The study included primarily individuals of Northern European descent. Each patient was screened for the absence of disease or, if the disease was present, its degree in each of four parameters. The four variables of interest are clinical attachment loss (CAL), pocket depth, gingivitis and interproximal bone loss. A blood sample is taken, DNA isolated and the genetic polymorphism at IL-1A and IL-1B genetic loci determined. In addition, a dental history of each patient was obtained including specific questions on family history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease or early tooth loss as well as whether they were smokers. In order to determine periodontal disease status, each patient underwent an examination including a full mouth measurement of pocket depth (PD), recession (R), plaque (Pl) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Clinical attachment loss (CAL) is computed from pocket depth and recession. Radiographs assess bone loss. Based on these measurements, the patient was classified as either healthy, mild to moderate periodontitis or severe periodontitis. All clinical variables were calculated on six surfaces (distal buccal, buccal, mesial buccal, mesial lingual, lingual and distal lingual) on each tooth (excluding third molars) for up to 168 sites. All radiographic variables were calculated on two surfaces on each tooth for up to 56 sites. Disease severity classification is as follows: Periodontally Healthy : Patients presented with all pocket depths ≤4mm, unlimited facial CAL, interproximal CAL of ≤2mm and <15% radiographic bone loss. Unlimited plaque and gingival inflammation and recession may be present. Mild to Moderate Periodontitis : No history of disease onset prior to age 35. Patients presented with no more than two missing teeth, other than third molars, teeth extracted for orthodontic therapy and teeth lost as a result of extra-oral trauma. Patients also presented with a PD≥6 mm on five to nine interproximal sites. At least two of the qualifying interproximal sites must occur in different quadrants. Gingival inflammation (as exemplified by bleeding on probing) was present in at least two quadrants. Full mouth radiographs must disclose less than four interproximal sites with ≥50% bone loss. Radiographic total mouth mean bone loss must be less than 25%. There is no specifications for CAL in this classification. Severe Periodontitis : Patients presented with of ≥10 interproximal sites that measure ≥7 mm, with PD of ≥7 mm occurring on at least eight teeth. CAL measured ≥5 mm on ≥11 sites. Full mouth radiographs taken within the last three years showed ≥7 interproximal sites with ≥50% bone loss on radiographs with a total mouth mean bone loss greater than 30%. Statistical Analysis χ 2 analysis was used. The Odds Ratio (relative risk) is calculated from a 2×2 contingency table as described by Woolf, 1955. PCR Amplification and Restriction Enzyme Digestion Protocols for Selected Alleles IL-1A The single base variation (C/T) polymorphism at IL-1A base -889 was identified as follows: SCREENING: PCR amplification of genomic templates. One mismatch inserted in a primer to complete an Nco I site if C is available at -889 PRIMERS: The following primers were produced in an ABI DNA synthesiser based on the genomic sequences (Furutani et al., 1986; GENBANK X03833). PCR CONDITIONS: [96°C (1 minute)] 1 cycle; [94°C (1 minute), 46°C (1 minute), 72°C (1 minute)] 40 cycles; [72°C (4 minutes)] 1 cycle. RESTRICTION ENZYME DIGESTION: Digestion was with Nco I at 37°C, for 8 hours. Sizing was by 8% PAGE or 2% agarose gels. PREDICTED RESULTS FROM DIGESTION: Allele 1 (C) Nco I digestion of PCR products of allele 1 will yield 83 and 16 basepair (bp) fragments. Allele 2 (T) Nco I digestion of PCR products of allele 2 will be ineffective and yield a 99 basepair (bp) product. IL-1B ( Ava I) The single base variation (C/T) polymorphism at IL-1B base -511 was identified as follows: SCREENING: PCR amplification of genomic templates. The single base variation completes an Ava I site on allele 1 (C), a Bsu 36I site on allele 2 (T). PRIMERS: The following primers were produced in an ABI DNA synthesiser based on the genomic sequences (Clark et al., 1986; GENBANK X04500). PCR CONDITIONS: [95°C (2 minuteS)] 1 cycle; [95°C (1 minute). 53°C (1 minute), 74°C (1 minute)] 35 cycles; [74°C (4 minutes)] 1 cycle. RESTRICTION ENZYME DIGESTION: Digestion was at 37°C. for 8 hours. Sizing was by 8% PAGE. PREDICTED RESULTS FROM DIGESTION: Allele 1 (C) Ava I digestion of PCR products of allele 1 will yield 190 and 114 bp fragments. Bsu 36I digestion of PCR products of allele 1 will be ineffective and yield a 304 bp product. Allele 2 (T) Ava I digestion of PCR products of allele 2 will be ineffective and yield a 304 bp product. Bsu 36I digestion of PCR products of allele 2 will yield 190 and 114 bp fragments. IL-1B ( Tag I) The single base variation (C/T) polymorphism at IL-1B base +3954 was identified as follows: SCREENING: PCR amplification of genomic templates. One mismatch was inserted in a primer to complete a Taq I site as a positive control. Polymorphic Taq I site is native. PRIMERS: The following primers were produced in an ABI DNA synthesiser based on the genomic sequences (Clark et al., 1986; GENBANK X04500). PCR CONDITIONS: [95°C (2 minutes)] 1 cycle; [95°C(1 minute), 67.5°C (1 minute), 74°C (1 minute)] 38 cycles; [72°C (8 minutes)] 1 cycle. RESTRICTION ENZYME DIGESTION: Digestion was at 60°C, for 8 hours. Sizing was by 8% PAGE. PREDICTED RESULTS FROM DIGESTION: Allele 1 (C) Taq I digestion of PCR products of allele 1 will yield 12, 85 and 97 bp fragments. Allele 2 (T) Taq I digestion of PCR products of allele 2 will yield 12 and 182 bp fragments. RESULTS Adults, smokers and nonsmokers, were screened for periodontal disease severity using a consensus clinical criteria as described herein above. The data are shown in Table 1. Group H M S N 49 42 42 mean S.D. mean S.D. mean S.D. BOP * 10.44 7.77 20.84 10.91 26.37 13.63 PD 2.84 0.49 3.85 0.3 4.31 0.46 CAL 2.68 0.89 4.31 0.5 8.66 1.33 #>49% 0 0 0.48 0.67 14.8 7.6 %b1 11.8 2 22.4 2.6 41.8 8.3 Abbreviations used in Tables: PD (pocket depth), BOP (bleeding on probing), CAL (clinical attachment loss), #>49% (number of sites where bone loss is greater than 49%), %b1 (percent bone loss), S.D. (standard deviation); H=healthy, M=mild/moderate, S=severe, * indicates significance at least at 95% confidence level. In Table 2 the clinical data is displayed and compared between smokers and nonsmokers. Note that there is a significant difference in the overall clinical disease state between smokers and nonsmokers. Smoke No Yes p N 100 36 mean S.D. mean S.D. BOP 17.4 11.9 22.85 0.14 0.042 * PD 3.42 0.62 3.97 0.78 4E-04 ** CAL 3.98 1.61 5.7 2.08 1E-04 ** N 98 35 #>49% 2.43 5.82 11.59 9.88 1E-04 ** %b1 20.53 10.83 36.76 13.04 1E-04 ** Abbreviations as in Table 1. Table 3 summarises and compares the clinical findings for IL-1A alleles 1 and 2. Allelic genotype for each gene is indicated by the paired numbers, i.e. 1/1 indicates homozygosity for allele 1, 1/2 indicates heterozygous for alleles 1 and 2, etc. Where the genotype is given as allele 2 this indicates at least one copy of the allele is present. The analysis is done with the non-smokers. As the data in Table 2 indicates, the smokers as a group had severe disease such that they are not included in the analysis for genetic predisposition. The data in Table 3 shows there is a significant association of severe clinical disease for the carriers of IL-1A allele 2 particularly for percent bone loss, CAL and PD. The population analysed included all disease groups for nonsmokers. IL-1A 11 12 or 22 N 44 54 mean S.D. mean S.D. p BOP 16.7 12.7 18 11.6 0.598 PD 3.28 0.65 3.36 0.58 0.58 CAL 3.62 1.48 4.3 1.56 0.036 * #>49% 1.48 4.83 3.2 6.45 0.133 %b1 17.41 8.77 23.19 11.36 0.006 ** Abbreviations as in Table 1. In Table 4, the same analysis is performed for IL-1B( Tag I) alleles 1 and 2. IL-1B ( Taq I) 11 12 or 22 N 51 47 mean S.D. mean S.D. p BOP 18.3 12.1 18.6 12 0.341 PD 3.35 0.56 3.5 0.67 0.234 CAL 3.82 1.44 4.18 1.19 0.278 #>49% 1.73 6.07 3.18 6.5 0.218 %b1 13 9.14 22.32 11.9 0.123 Abbreviations as in Table 1. In Table 5, the same analysis is presented for patients who have (+) the genotype IL-1A allele 2 plus IL-1B ( Taq I) allele 2 versus those who do not (-). More specifically, the - genotype is IL-1A(1/1) plus IL-1B( Taq I) (1/1 or 1/2 or 2/2) OR IL-1A (1/2 or 2/2) plus IL-1B( Taq I) (1/1). The + genotype is IL-1A (1/2 or 2/2) plus IL-1B( Taq I)(1/2 or 2/2). Genotype - + N 63 35 mean S.D. mean S.D. p BOP 16.2 12.0 19.5 11.9 0.194 PD 3.32 0.59 3.62 0.64 0.023 * CAL 3.7 1.41 4.52 1.83 0.026 * #>49% 1.43 4.60 4.22 7.26 0.044 * %b1 18.13 8.74 25.03 12.3 0.005 ** Abbreviations as in Table 1. The allelic distribution for IL-1A and IL-1B ( Taq I) according to patient disease severity were determined and are shown in Table 6. ALL SUBJECTS Patient Genotype Disease Severity Distribution IL-1A IL-1B ( Taq I) Healthy Mild-Mod Disease Severe Disease 1/1 1/1,1/2, 2/2 30 61.2% 16 38.1% 19 44.2% 1/2, 2/2 1/1 8 16.3% 10 23.8% 8 18.6% 1/2, 2/2 1/2, 2/2 11 22.4% 16 38.1% 15 35.7% 49 100% 42 100% 42 100% In Table 7, the results for nonsmokers for IL-1A and IL-1B ( Taq I) is presented. Of patients with severe disease, 64.7% had a genotype of IL-1A 1/2 or 2/2 and IL-1B( Taq I) 1/2 or 2/2 indicating that the presence of allele 2, either in a heterozygous or homozygous genotype, leads to severe disease susceptibility. NONSMOKERS Patient Genotype Disease Severity Distribution IL-1A IL-1B ( Taq I) Healthy Mild-Mod Disease Severe Disease 1/1 1/1, 1/2, 2/2 27 13 4 61.4% 35.2% 23.5% 1/2, 2/2 1/1 7 10 2 15.9% 27.0% 11.8% 1/2, 2/2 1/2, 2/2 10 14 11 22.7% 37.8% 64.7% 44 37 17 100% 100% 100% An odds ratio (approximate relative risk) was derived for the association between allelic polymorphism pattern (genotype) at IL-1A allele 2 and IL-1B ( Taq I) allele 2 and development of disease and/or its severity. The Odds Ratio is calculated by using a Contingency Table as shown in Table 8. The following formula: (A × D)/(C × B) is used to calculate the Odds Ratio (Woolf, 1955). Sample Contingency Table Genotype of Interest Phenotype 1 Phenotype 2 Present A B Absent C D As shown in Table 9, patients who are smokers or who have the genotype IL-1A allele 2 plus IL-1B( Taq I) allele 2 (+ genotype) are more likely than those who do not have this genotype to have severe disease; they have an Odds Ratio of 10.06:1. Among nonsmokers only (Table 10) the Odds Ratio is 4.3:1 for those patients with the genotype IL-1A allele 2 plus IL-1B( Taq I) allele 2. Odds Ratio In All Subjects Smoker OR Genotype: IL-1A allele 2 plus IL-1B( Taq I) allele 2 Severe Disease Healthy or Mild-Mod Disease PRESENT 36 34 Absent 6 57 OR = 10.06 (3.84-26.35) χ 2 = 26.95 (p<0.0001) Odds Ratio In Nonsmokers Genotype: IL-1A allele 2 plus IL-1B( Taq I) allele 2 Severe Disease Healthy or Mild-Mod Disease PRESENT 11 24 Absent 6 57 OR = 4.3 χ 2 = 7.53 (p=0.006) The clinical data for the smoker or target genotype of IL-1A allele 2 plus IL-1B ( Taq I) allele 2 (+ genotype) is shown in Table 11. N 63 70 mean S.D. mean S.D. BOP 16.24 12.01 21.01 12.98 0.0617 ** PD 8.32 0.59 3.79 0.73 0.0008 ** CAL 3.7 1.41 5.12 2.05 0.0001 ** #>49% 1.43 4.6 7.86 9.24 0.00001 ** %bl 18.13 8.74 30.32 13.68 0.00001 ** Abbreviations as in Table 1. The allelic distribution for IL-1A and IL-1B (AvaI) were determined for Nonsmokers (n=100) and is presented in Table 12. Of patients with severe disease, 36.8% had a genotype of IL-1A 1/2 or 2/2 and IL-1B( Ava I) 1/2 or 2/2. NONSMOKERS Patient Genotype Disease Severity Distribution IL-1A IL-1B ( Ava I) Healthy Mild-Mod Disease Severe Disease 1/1 1/1, 1/2, 2/2 27 13 4 61.4% 35.2% 21.1% 1/2, 2/2 1/1 11 10 8 25.0% 27.0% 42.1% 1/2, 2/2 1/2, 2/2 6 14 7 13.6% 37.8% 36.8% 44 37 19 100% 100% 100% Among nonsmokers only, the Odds Ratio is 0.85 for those patients with the genotype IL-1A allele 2 plus IL-1B( Ava I) allele 2 (Table 13). This genetic combination shows no association with periodontal disease severity. Odds Ratio In Nonsmokers Genotype: IL-1A allele 2 plus IL-1B( Ava I) allele 2 Severe Disease Healthy or Mild-Mod Disease PRESENT 10 46 Absent 9 35 The data presented show that of those subjects with severe disease 86.0% were either current smokers or had the target genotype IL-1A allele 2 plus IL-1B( Taq I) allele 2. Of the subjects who were neither current smokers nor had the target genotype, 90.5% did not have severe disease. Of the subjects who were either current smokers or had the target genotype, 52.1% had severe disease independent of any other risk factor. The present invention therefore provides a method of identifying patients at risk for severe periodontal disease to allow early treatment. Throughout this application various publications and patents are referenced. Full citations for the referenced publications and patents not included herein above are listed below. REFERENCES Blakemore et al., "Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism as a severity factor in systemic lupus erythematosus" Arthritis and Rheumatism 37(9):1380-1385 (1994). Clark et al., "Genomic sequence for human prointerleukin 1 beta: possible evolution from a reverse transcribed prointerleukin 1 alpha gene" Nucl Acids Res 14:7897-7914 (1986) [published erratum appears in Nucleic Acids Res 15(2):868 (1987)]. de Giovine et al., "Single base polymorphism at - 511 in the human interleukin-1β gene (IL1β)" Human Molecular Genetics 1, No. 6:450 (1992). Duff, "Cytokines and anti-cytokines" Br. J. Rheumatol 32 (Suppl 1):15-20 (1993). Furutani et al., "Complete nucleotide sequence of the gene for human interleukin 1 alpha" Nucl Acids Res 14:3167-3179 (1986). Mansfield et al., "Novel genetic association between ulcerative colitis and the antiinflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 receptor antagonist" Gastroenterology 106:637-642 (1994). McDowell et al., "A genetic association between juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and a novel interleukin-1 alpha polymorphism" Arthritis & Rheumatism (in press 1995). McGuire et al., "Variation in the TNF-α promoter region associated with susceptibility to cerebral malaria" Nature 371:508-511 (1994). Michalowicz et al., "Periodontal findings in adult twins" J Periodontol 62:293-299 (1991) Basic and Clinical Immunology, 8th Ed. eds Stites, Terr & Parslow, Chapter 9, pgs 105-123. Verjans et al., "Polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor region in relation to disease: An overview" Rheum Dis Clin North Am 18:177-186 (1992). Wilson et al., "Single base polymorphism in the human Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) gene detectable by Ncol restriction of PCR product" Human Molecular Genetics 1, No. 5:353 (1992). Woolf, B., "Estimating the relationship between blood groups and disease" Annals of Human Genetics 19:251-253 (1955). Pociot, F. et al "A TaqI polymorphism in the human interleukin-1β (IL-1β) gene correlates with IL-1β secretion in vitro" European Journal of Clinical Investigations, 22:396-402 (1992) SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (i) APPLICANT: Kornman, Kenneth S. Duff, Gordon W. (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: Detecting Genetic Predisposition to Periodontal Disease (iii) NUMBER OP SEQUENCES: 6 (iv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: (A) ADDRESSEE: Aquilino & Welsh (B) STREET: 2121 Crystal Drive, Suite 503 (C) CITY: Arlington (D) STATE: Virginia (E) COUNTRY: US (F) ZIP: 22202 (v) COMPUTER READABLE FORM: (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk (B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: PatentIn Release #1.0, Version #1.30 (vi) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: (A) APPLICATION NUMBER: (B) FILING DATE: (C) CLASSIFICATION: (viii) ATTORNEY/AGENT INFORMATION: (A) NAME: Welsh, John L. 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Claims: A method of detecting genetic predisposition to periodontal disease of increased severity, said method comprising: (a) providing a sample of DNA which was obtained from a subject; (b) analysing said sample of DNA to determine a genetic polymorphism pattern of the genes that code for interleukins IL-1α and IL-1β; and (c) identifying if said subject expresses a genetic polymorphism pattern associated with periodontal disease of increased severity. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of comparing said genetic polymorphism pattern obtained in step (b) with genetic polymorphism patterns determined from at least one control sample. A method according to claim 2, wherein said at least one control sample is an ethnically matched control sample of known disease severity. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said analysis of said sample of DNA in step (b) includes amplification of DNA target sequences using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with oligonucleotide primers. A method according to claim 4, wherein said oligonucleotide primers are selected from: and A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said analysis of said sample of DNA in step (b) includes restriction enzyme digestion with restriction enzymes. A method according to claim 6, wherein said restriction enzymes are selected from Nco I, Taq I, Ava l and Bsu 36I. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said DNA genetic polymorphism pattern associated with periodontal disease of increased severity is the presence of at least one copy of a thymine (T) at base-889 in the gene IL-1A, which gene IL-1A codes for interleukin IL-1α. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said DNA genetic polymorphism pattern associated with periodontal disease of increased severity is a thymine (T) at base-889 in the gene IL-1A plus a thymine (T) at base +3954 in the gene IL-1B, which genes IL-1A and IL-1B code for interleukin IL-1α and IL-1β respectively.

Inventors: DUFF GORDON W, KORNMAN KENNETH, DUFF, GORDON W., KORNMAN, KENNETH
Applicants: INTERLEUKIN GENETICS INC, INTERLEUKIN GENETICS, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C07H21
IPC codes: C12Q1, C12N15, C12P19, C07H21