title: Periodontal Bacterial DNA and Their Link to Human Cardiac Tissue: Findings of a Pilot Study.
abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to detect correlations of microbiological DNA, inflammatory proteins, and infection parameters in patients with periodontal disease (PD) and valvular heart disease (VHD).
  
  
  
  A perioperative comprehensive dental examination for the investigation of periodontal status, including sampling of specific subgingival bacteria, was performed in 10 patients with indication for surgery of aortic valve stenosis with or without concomitant myocardial revascularization. Standard protocol biopsies were taken from right atrium (A), left septal myocardium (M), and aortic valve (V). Eleven periodontal pathogens DNA in oral and cardiac tissue samples (A/M/V) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction. For cardiac tissue samples, Western blot analysis of LPS-binding protein (LBP), immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of LBP-big42, LPS-binding protein receptor (CD14), and macrophages (CD68), as well as inflammation scoring measurement were performed.
  
  
  
  Periodontitis was present in all patients with severe intensity in 7, moderate in 2 and mild in one patient. Same bacterial DNA was detected in A, M, and V in different distribution, and detection was more often in atrium than in myocardium or valve tissue. Morphological investigation revealed increased extracellular inflammatory cell migration. In IHC markers of LBP, CD68 and CD14 showed positive findings for all patients in atrium and myocardium.
  
  
  
  Our results demonstrate the presence of oral bacterial DNA in human cardiac tissue, as well as inflammatory markers potentially indicating connection of PD and VHD. Further investigation is necessary to confirm these preliminary data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Periodontology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ziebolz
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rost
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waldmann-Beushausen
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedrich A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Schöndube
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Mausberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Danner
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000074286:Preliminary Data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule