title: Porphyromonas gingivalis and the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: analysis of various compartments including the synovial tissue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) DNA in the synovial tissue through synovial biopsy and in other compartments of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in comparison with patients affected by other arthritides. Possible links with clinical, immunologic and genetic features were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood (PB), sub-gingival dental plaque, synovial fluid (SF) and synovial tissue samples were collected from 69 patients with active knee arthritis (32 with RA and 37 with other arthritides, of which 14 had undifferentiated peripheral inflammatory arthritis - UPIA). Demographic, clinical, laboratory and immunological data were recorded. The presence of Pg DNA was evaluated through PCR. The HLA-DR haplotype was assessed for 45 patients with RA and UPIA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences arose in the positivity for Pg DNA in the sub-gingival plaque, PB and SF samples between RA and the cohort of other arthritides. Full PB samples showed a higher positivity for Pg DNA than plasma samples (11.8% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.04). Patients with RA showed a higher positivity for Pg DNA in the synovial tissue compared to controls (33.3% vs. 5.9%, P <0.01). UPIA and RA patients carrying the HLA DRB1*04 allele showed a higher positivity for Pg DNA in the synovial tissue compared to patients negative for the allele (57.1% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.04). RA patients positive for Pg DNA in the sub-gingival plaque had a lower disease duration and a higher peripheral blood leucocyte and neutrophil count. The presence of Pg DNA did not influence disease activity, disease disability or positivity for autoantibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of Pg DNA in the synovial tissue of RA patients suggests a pathogenic role of the bacterium. The higher positivity of Pg DNA in full peripheral blood and synovial tissue samples compared to plasma and synovial fluid suggests a possible intracellular localization of Pg, in particular in patients positive for HLA-DR4.
authors.forename: Michele Ciro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Totaro
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cattani
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ria
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tolusso
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gremese
authors.forename: Anna Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Onghia
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Sante
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canestri
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferraccioli
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006680:HLA Antigens