Association of DLX3 gene polymorphism and dental caries susceptibility in Japanese children

• We examine the association between DLX3 and dental caries.
• The association between rs2278163of DLX3 and caries experience was assessed.
• We report the association between rs2278163 and dental caries susceptibility.

ObjectiveIn this study, we investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DLX3 are associated with dental caries susceptibility in Japanese children.DesignGenomic DNA of 201 Japanese children was extracted from buccal epithelial cells. The subjects were divided into two groups: ‘low level’ group with <10,000 colony forming units (CFU) of Streptococcus mutans/mL saliva (level 0) and ‘high level’ group with ≥10,000 CFU/mL (more than level 1). Each group was further divided according to decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft) into low caries experience (dmft ≤ 2) and high caries experience (dmft ≥ 3). Seven SNPs in DLX3 were genotyped using TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assay.ResultsStatistical significant association was observed between DLX3 (rs2278163) and caries experience in ‘high level Mutans streptococci’ group.ConclusionThese findings suggest that rs2278163 SNP of DLX3 might be associated with dental caries susceptibility in Japanese children. T and C alleles of rs2278163 SNP may potentially be involved in caries susceptibility and caries protection respectively.