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Published on: August 8, 2014
Clarithromycin suppresses the periodontal bacteria-accelerated abdominal aortic aneurysms in mice
N Aoyama1, J-I Suzuki, M Ogawa
1Section of Periodontology, Department of Hard Tissue Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Background And Objective:
Although clarithromycin (CAM) has many biological functions, including regulation of MMPs, little is known about its effect on abdominal aortic aneurysms. Periodontopathic bacteria have been reported to be associated with several kinds of circulatory diseases. The purpose of this study was therefore to clarify the effect of CAM on periodontopathic bacteria-accelerated abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Material And Methods:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm was produced in mice by the peri-aortic application of 0.25 m CaCl(2). The mice were inoculated once per week with live Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is one of the major periodontopathic bacteria. Test mice (n=8) were given a daily oral dose of CAM, while control mice (n=13) were not.
Results:
Four weeks after the operation, the P. gingivalis-injected and CAM-treated mice showed a significant decrease in the aortic diameter in comparison with the mice only injected with P. gingivalis. Histopathologically, the samples obtained from the P. gingivalis-injected and CAM-treated mice showed less elastic degradation. Moreover, the plasma MMP-2 concentration of the CAM-treated mice decreased significantly.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that CAM administration is useful to suppress periodontal bacteria-accelerated abdominal aortic aneurysms via MMP regulation.
Insights
Clarithromycin (CAM) treatment significantly reduced abdominal aortic aneurysm size in mice infected with periodontal bacteria. This suggests CAM may help regulate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and suppress aneurysm progression.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are linked to circulatory diseases.
- Periodontopathic bacteria, like Porphyromonas gingivalis, are implicated in cardiovascular issues.
- The impact of clarithromycin (CAM) on AAA, particularly when accelerated by bacteria, is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic effect of clarithromycin (CAM) on abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) accelerated by periodontopathic bacteria.
- To determine if CAM can mitigate the progression of AAAs induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis infection in a mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms were induced in mice using peri-aortic CaCl(2) application.
- Mice were inoculated weekly with live Porphyromonas gingivalis.
- Treatment groups received daily oral clarithromycin (CAM), while control groups did not.
Main Results:
- CAM-treated mice exhibited a significant reduction in aortic diameter compared to controls.
- Histological analysis revealed decreased elastic degradation in the aortas of CAM-treated mice.
- Plasma concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were significantly lower in mice treated with CAM.
Conclusions:
- Clarithromycin (CAM) administration shows promise in suppressing periodontal bacteria-accelerated abdominal aortic aneurysms.
- The mechanism of action appears to involve the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).
- These findings highlight CAM as a potential therapeutic agent for bacterial-influenced AAA progression.
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