2 Integrin +807 Polymorphism in Drug-induced Gingival Overgrowth

alpha 2 integrin on fibroblasts is reported to play an important role in the induction of drug- induced gingival overgrowth, which is characterized by excessive accumulation of type I collagen in gingival connective tissue. Silent polymorphism 807 T/ C within the alpha 2 integrin gene is associated with high/ low alpha 2 integrin expression. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that expression of alpha 2 integrin 807 T/ C polymorphism correlates with drug- induced gingival overgrowth. A case- control study comparing 136 subjects taking calcium channel blockers ( 72 with vs. 64 without drug- induced gingival overgrowth) demonstrated that the frequency of the + 807 C allele was significantly higher in the case group than in the controls ( odds ratio, 3.61; 95% confidence interval, 2.14 - 6.10; P < 0.05). The present findings suggest that the alpha 2 + 807 C allele is one of the genetic risk factors for drug- induced gingival overgrowth.