Interleukin-1 Gene Polymorphisms Identified as Significant Genetic Risk Factors for Periodontitis Across Diverse Populations

Periodontitis is a complex, multifactorial inflammatory disease affecting the tooth-supporting tissues, primarily driven by dental biofilm and modulated by the host immune response. Current standard-of-care often focuses on microbial control, but individual variability in disease susceptibility and progression remains a significant challenge. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, plays a pivotal role in periodontal inflammation and connective tissue breakdown. Understanding genetic predispositions, particularly IL-1 gene polymorphisms, is crucial for identifying individuals at higher risk and developing more personalized preventive and therapeutic strategies.

This literature review systematically examined the association between interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms and periodontitis susceptibility in human studies. Data were retrieved from the PubMed database, covering publications from 2007 to 2024. The search strategy employed was: ("periodontitis" OR "periodontal disease") AND ("interleukin-1" OR "IL-1") AND "polymorphism". Only human studies investigating this specific association were selected. Exclusion criteria rigorously filtered out animal studies, meta-analyses, and other review articles, ensuring the focus remained on primary research findings.

The review identified that, despite some conflicting results across individual studies, a substantial body of evidence points to interleukin-1 polymorphisms as significant genetic risk factors for periodontitis. These findings suggest a degree of shared genetic susceptibility to periodontal diseases, either broadly across different global populations or within specific ethnic groups. The variability in findings underscores the complex interplay of genetic, microbial, and environmental factors in periodontitis pathogenesis. The consistent identification of IL-1 as a key player highlights its central role in driving the inflammatory cascade that leads to tissue destruction in susceptible individuals. This genetic predisposition can influence the intensity of the host immune response to bacterial challenges.

Most studies identify interleukin-1 polymorphisms as significant genetic risk factors for periodontal diseases, suggesting shared genetic susceptibility across populations or among different ethnic groups.