Association between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to chronic kidney disease and periodontitis

Background/Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and periodontitis (PD) are serious public-health concerns. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone that interacts with its nuclear receptor (VDR) to regulate a variety of biological processes, such as bone metabolism, immune response modulation and transcription of several genes involved in CKD and PD disease mechanisms. The aim of this work was to investigate the association between polymorphisms in the VDR gene and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and PD. Methods: 222 subjects with and without ESRD (in hemodialysis) were divided into groups with and without PD. Polymorphisms TaqI and BsmI in the VDR gene were analyzed by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism. The significance of differences in allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies between groups was assessed by the chi(2) test (p value < 0.05) and odds ratio (OR). Results: Allele G was associated with protection against ESRD: groups without versus with ESRD (GG) X (GA+AA): OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.4-4.6, p = 0.00; (G X A): OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0-2.3, p = 0.02; (TG + CG) X ( TA + CA): OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0-2.3, p = 0.02. No association was observed between the study polymorphisms and susceptibility to or protection against PD. Conclusion: Allele G of the VDR BsmI polymorphism was associated with protection against ESRD.