Periodontitis
Risk gene identified
A specific gene variant considerably increases the risk of suffering from chronic inflammation of the gums. To prove this, a study searched through the entire human genome to find conspicuous features that could share responsibility for inflammation of the masticatory system. Arne Schäfer of the German "Inflammation Research Excellence Cluster" says "The recent identification of a genetic risk factor that is specifically active in causing periodontitis opens up prospects for a new understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease."
Often the gums just bleed slightly at first, then teeth become loose and finally they fall out. But that's not the end of the story: chronic inflammation in the oral cavity is said to be a point of attack for undesirable bacteria to enter the body, where the microbes may trigger further inflammatory responses. If this occurs in the blood vessels of the heart or brain, there is even a risk of a heart attack or stroke. "Excellence Cluster" dental medical expert Birte Grössner-Schreiber explains that "Periodontitis can have a detrimental effect on the health of the whole body."
Up to now inadequate oral hygiene was not a conclusive explanation of chronic gum inflammation with its serious consequences. For this reason hereditary predispositions had already been suspected many times in the past, but proof was lacking. A significant periodontitis risk gene - GLT6D1 - has now been decoded with certainty. "There is some evidence that regulatory effects on particular signal molecules originate from it," is how molecular biologist Schäfer describes the gene variant that has been identified and which the scientist has demonstrated noticeably often in periodontitis patients. Schäfer now plans to carry out further analyses to elucidate the functions of GLT6D1 in detail.