Abstract
α2 Integrin on fibroblasts plays a critical role in the phagocytic regulation of collagen internalization, and drug-induced gingival overgrowth, which is characterized by excessive accumulation of type I collagen in connective tissue, is caused by inhibition of collagen phagocytosis by a reduction of α2 integrin expression on fibroblasts. Silent polymorphism 807 T/C within the α2 integrin gene is associated with high/low α2 integrin expression. We examined the correlation of α2 integrin 807 T/C polymorphism 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 control group (odds ratio, 3.61; 95% confidence interval, 2.14-6.10, P < 0.05) . These findings suggest that the α2 +807 C allele is one of the genetic risk factors for drug-induced gingival overgrowth.
