Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteremia induces coronary and aortic atherosclerosis in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic pigs.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether recurrent intravenous injections with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P gingivalis), mimicking periodontitis-associated bacteremia, promotes coronary artery and aortic atherosclerosis in pigs.


RESULTS
Pigs (n=36) fed low- or high-fat chow were divided into P gingivalis-sensitized and P gingivalis-challenged groups or P gingivalis-sensitized controls and saline-treated controls. Pigs were sensitized with 10(9) killed P gingivalis subcutaneously. Four weeks later all sensitized pigs in the group to be challenged started intravenous injections thrice weekly for 5 months with 10(6) to 10(7) colony forming units of P gingivalis while controls received saline. Anti-P gingivalis antibody, serum cholesterol, and complete blood counts were assayed monthly. Pigs were euthanized 2 weeks after the last injection, and coronary arteries and aortas were analyzed by histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry. Anti-P gingivalis antibody was increased by P gingivalis exposure. P gingivalis-challenged pigs developed a significantly greater amount of coronary and aortic atherosclerosis than controls in the normocholesterolemic group and nearly significant in the hypercholesterolemic group. P gingivalis was detected by polymerase chain reaction in arteries from most (94%, 16 of 17) P gingivalis-challenged pigs but not controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Recurrent P gingivalis bacteremia induces aortic and coronary lesions consistent with atherosclerosis in normocholesterolemic pigs and increases aortic and coronary atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic pigs.
Brodala
Nadine
N
School of Dentistry and Department of Periodontology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Center of Oral and Systemic Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27516-3114, USA.
Merricks
Elizabeth P
EP
Bellinger
Dwight A
DA
Damrongsri
Damrong
D
Offenbacher
Steven
S
Beck
James
J
Madianos
Phoebus
P
Sotres
Daniela
D
Chang
Yu-Ling
YL
Koch
Gary
G
Nichols
Timothy C
TC
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013552:Swine
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004041:Dietary Fats; D002784:Cholesterol