Recurrent aphthous stomatitis and gene polymorphisms for the inflammatory markers TNF-alpha, TNF-beta and the vitamin D receptor: no association detected.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility that minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (MiRAS) is associated with the inheritance of specific gene polymorphisms for markers associated with macrophage driven inflammation, i.e. tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-beta or the vitamin D receptor (VDR).

SETTING: MiRAS is a common, painful, ulcerative condition of the mouth. Its etiology is unknown although mononuclear inflammatory cells are thought to play an important role. There is no clear genetic mode of inheritance, however, many patients report a positive family history and disease concordance is significantly higher in monozygotic than dizygotic twins, suggesting a polygenic mode of inheritance.

METHODS: Ninety-five MiRAS patients and an ethnically matched control population were genotyped for TNFA-308, TNFB Ncol and VDR (intron 8 and exon 9) polymorphisms. Chi-square analysis was used to compare the allele frequencies and genotypes of cases and controls.

RESULTS: No significant association was identified between inheritance of specific alleles or genotypes of the TNFA-308, TNFB Ncol and VDR (intron 8 and exon 9) polymorphisms and susceptibility to MiRAS.

CONCLUSIONS: Inheritance of specific gene polymorphisms for TNF-alpha, TNF-beta or VDR does not appear to be a significant factor in determining susceptibility to MiRAS.