Association between HLA system and periodontal diseases.

Abstract

HLA system plays an important role in the regulation of the immune response. Association between HLA genes and disease has been shown for several disorders, in particular auto-immune diseases. HLA system may also be associated with periodontal diseases. It has been suggested that HLA-A2 is related to resistance in juvenile periodontitis and A9 to susceptibility in juvenile periodontitis (JP) and rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP). DR2, DR4 and DQw1 may also be susceptibility factors in JP and RPP. If implicated in periodontal diseases, HLA system may be associated with low or non-responsiveness to plaque bacterial antigens which could result in disease progression.