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Novel and known periodontal pathogens residing in gingival crevicular fluid are associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Manoil Daniel,
Bostanci Nagihan,
Mumcu Gonca,
Inanc Nevsun,
Can Meryem,
Direskeneli Haner,
Belibasakis Georgios N.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1002/jper.20-0295
Subject(s) - tannerella forsythia , porphyromonas gingivalis , bleeding on probing , periodontitis , rheumatoid arthritis , medicine , rheumatoid factor , gastroenterology , arthritis , immunology , pathology , honeysuckle , alternative medicine , traditional chinese medicine
Background Periodontitis is a suspected environmental risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, correlation mechanisms between the two pathologies remain elusive. This study examined potential correlations between detached subgingival bacteria collected in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and RA parameters. Methods RA patients ( n = 52, F:M = 40:12), patients with Behcet's disease (BD, n = 40, F:M = 29:11) as another systemic inflammatory disease were studied along with a systemically healthy control group (HC, n = 57, F:M = 40:17). All participants were non‐smokers. Full mouth periodontal parameters were recorded. RA activity was assessed using the 28‐joint Disease Activity Score (DAS‐28). Rheumatoid factors (RFs)‐IgM and ‐IgA were measured by ELISA. GCF samples were investigated by means of fluorescent in situ hybridization for 10 different bacterial taxa. Results The taxa TM7, Synergistetes cluster B, Leptotrichia, Megasphaera , Anaeroglobus geminatus , and Tannerella forsythia displayed significantly differential abundances between the groups. Whereas abundances of Megasphaera and A. geminatus were significantly increased in the RA group, only Porphyromonas gingivalis displayed significant correlations with plaque scores, bleeding on probing, and RF‐IgA. RA patients displaying RF‐IgA levels >75 IU/mL exhibited five‐fold more abundant P. gingivalis levels than patients below the threshold. This association with RF‐IgA levels appeared even more pronounced, by six‐fold more P. gingivalis ( P = 0.025), in patients with a DAS‐28 score >3.2, indicative of moderate/very active RA. Conclusions Unattached GCF bacteria may mediate the association between periodontitis and RA, and monitoring the bacterial composition of GCF might inform on RA activity. The role of newly identified bacterial taxa in RA warrants further investigations.