Detection of Fusobacterium nucleatum in chorionic tissues of high-risk pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to investigate the existence of a periodontopathic bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum, in chorionic tissues of pregnant women, and the effects of F. nucleatum on human chorion-derived cells.


METHODS
Oral and chorionic tissue samples were collected from 24 high-risk pregnant women and 15 normal pregnant women. The presence of F. nucleatum in the samples was detected using polymerase chain reaction. Chorion-derived cells and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 or TLR-4 gene-silenced chorion-derived cells were stimulated with F. nucleatum lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Interleukin (IL)-6 and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels in the culture supernatants were measured using ELISA.


RESULTS
F. nucleatum was detected in all oral samples and seven chorionic tissues from the high-risk pregnant women, but was not detected in chorionic tissues from the normal pregnant women. F. nucleatum LPS significantly increased IL-6 and CRH secretion by chorion-derived cells. The F. nucleatum LPS-induced IL-6 and CRH levels were significantly reduced in TLR-2 or TLR-4 gene-silenced chorion-derived cells.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that F. nucleatum is detected in chorionic tissues of high-risk pregnant women, but not in chorionic tissues of normal pregnant women, and that F. nucleatum induces IL-6 and CRH production via both TLR-2 and TLR-4 in chorion-derived cells.
Department of Periodontology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan.
Fumi
F
Tateishi
Kozue
K
Hasegawa-Nakamura
Toshiaki
T
Nakamura
Yuichi
Y
Oogai
Hitoshi
H
Komatsuzawa
Kazuya
K
Kawamata
Tsutomu
T
Douchi
Masayuki
M
Hatae
Kazuyuki
K
Noguchi
D000328:Adult; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002823:Chorion / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000150:complications; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone