Yu-Chen Lee ¹, Chih-Yi Liu ^2 3, Chia-Long Lee ⁴, Ruo-Han Zhang ^5 6, Chi-Jung Huang ^7 8, Ting-Lin Yen ^6 7 9

Affiliations

1. Department of Dentistry, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
2. Division of Pathology, Sijhih Cathay General Hospital, New Taipei City 221, Taiwan.
3. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan.
4. Department of Internal Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
5. Graduate School of Health Industry Management, Ching Kuo Institute of Management and Health, Keelung City 20301, Taiwan.
6. Department of Oral Hygiene Care, Ching Kuo Institute of Management and Health, Keelung City 20301, Taiwan.
7. Department of Medical Research, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
8. Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan.
9. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.

ABSTRACT

Periodontal disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent disorders globally and is strongly associated with many other diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an inflammatory condition of the colon and the small intestine, is reported to be associated with PD through undetermined mechanisms. We analyzed taxonomic assignment files from the Crohn’s Disease Viral and Microbial Metagenome Project (PRJEB3206). The abundance of Porphyromonadaceae in fecal samples was significantly different between patients with Crohn’s disease and control volunteers. Dextran sulfate sodium was used to induce colitis in mice to reveal the effect of this periodontopathic pathogen in vivo. After intrarectal implantation of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg)-the primary pathogen causing PD-the disease activity index score, colonic epithelial loss, and inflammatory cell infiltration were intensified. In addition, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 showed the highest levels in Pg-infected colons. This revealed the importance of Pg in the exacerbation of IBD. Thus, simultaneous treatment of PD should be considered for people with IBD. Moreover, implantation of Pg in the rectum worsened the clinical symptoms of colitis in mice. Because Pg participates in the pathogenesis of IBD, reducing the chances of it entering the intestine might prevent the worsening of this disorder.

Keywords: Porphyromonas gingivalis; gut inflammation; inflammatory bowel disease; periodontal disease.

>Pathogens. 2022 Jan 11;11(1):84. doi: 10.3390/pathogens11010084.