Porphyromonas gingivalis oral infection exacerbates the development and severity of collagen-induced arthritis.
BACKGROUND
Clinical studies suggest a direct influence of periodontal disease (PD) on serum inflammatory markers and disease assessment of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the influence of PD on arthritis development remains unclear. This investigation was undertaken to determine the contribution of chronic PD to immune activation and development of joint inflammation using the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model.


METHODS
DBA1/J mice orally infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis were administered with collagen II (CII) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) to induce arthritis. Arthritis development was assessed by visual scoring of paw swelling, caliper measurement of the paws, mRNA expression, paw micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis, histology, and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase for osteoclast detection (TRAP)-positive immunohistochemistry. Serum and reactivated splenocytes were evaluated for cytokine expression.


RESULTS
Mice induced for PD and/or arthritis developed periodontal disease, shown by decreased alveolar bone and alteration of mRNA expression in gingival tissues and submandibular lymph nodes compared to vehicle. P. gingivalis oral infection increased paw swelling and osteoclast numbers in mice immunized with CFA/CII. Arthritis incidence and severity were increased by P. gingivalis in mice that received IFA/CII immunizations. Increased synovitis, bone erosions, and osteoclast numbers in the paws were observed following IFA/CII immunizations in mice infected with P gingivalis. Furthermore, cytokine analysis showed a trend toward increased serum Th17/Th1 ratios when P. gingivalis infection was present in mice receiving either CFA/CII or IFA/CII immunizations. Significant cytokine increases induced by P. gingivalis oral infection were mostly associated to Th17-related cytokines of reactivated splenic cells, including IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-22 in the CFA/CII group and IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, transforming growth factor-β, IL-6 and IL-23 in the IFA/CII group.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic P. gingivalis oral infection prior to arthritis induction increases the immune system activation favoring Th17 cell responses, and ultimately accelerating arthritis development. These results suggest that chronic oral infection may influence RA development mainly through activation of Th17-related pathways.
Julie Teresa
JT
Marchesan
Elizabeth Ann
EA
Gerow
Riley
R
Schaff
Andrei Dan
AD
Taut
Seung-Yun
SY
Shin
James
J
Sugai
David
D
Brand
Aaron
A
Burberry
Julie
J
Jorns
Steven Karl
SK
Lundy
Gabriel
G
Nuñez
David A
DA
Fox
William V
WV
Giannobile
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis
D016207:Cytokines