Genes and SNPs in the pathway of immune response and caries risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to pool the data on Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in immune response genes associated with dental caries. Nineteen studies were included in the review and 18 in the meta-analysis. Twenty-two SNPs were evaluated, which are linked to six different genes (<i>MBL2</i>, <i>LFT</i>, <i>MASP2</i>, <i>DEFB1</i>, <i>FCN2</i> and <i>MUC5B</i>). Most SNPs (81.8%) are related to the possible functional impact on protein coding. The <i>MBL2</i> gene was associated with caries experience in the analysis of the homozygote (OR = 2.12 CI95%[1.12–3.99]) and heterozygote (OR = 2.22 CI95%[1.44–3.44]) genotypes. The <i>MUC5B</i> gene was associated according to an analysis of the heterozygous genotype (OR = 1.83 CI95%[1.08–3.09]). Thus, SNPs related to immune response genes are linked to the phenotype of caries experience. Although the meta-analysis showed that the genes <i>MBL2</i> and <i>MUC5B</i> were associated with caries, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the quality of the evidence.

本系统评价与荟萃分析旨在合并与龋病相关的免疫应答基因中单核苷酸多态性（Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, SNPs）的相关数据。本次系统评价共纳入19项研究，荟萃分析则纳入18项研究。共评估了22个单核苷酸多态性位点，这些位点与6种不同的基因相关：MBL2、LFT、MASP2、DEFB1、FCN2及MUC5B。其中81.8%的单核苷酸多态性可能对蛋白质编码存在功能性影响。在纯合子基因型（比值比OR=2.12，95%置信区间CI95%[1.12–3.99]）与杂合子基因型（OR=2.22，95%置信区间CI95%[1.44–3.44]）的分析中，MBL2基因与龋病患病情况存在关联。针对杂合子基因型的分析显示，MUC5B基因同样与龋病患病情况相关（OR=1.83，95%置信区间CI95%[1.08–3.09]）。综上，免疫应答基因相关的单核苷酸多态性与龋病患病表型存在关联。尽管荟萃分析结果显示MBL2与MUC5B基因与龋病存在关联，但由于证据质量有限，对该结果的解读应持谨慎态度。