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Periodontal pathogen load and increased antibody response to heat shock protein 60 in patients with cardiovascular
Shaneen J Leishman1, Pauline J Ford, Hong Lien Do
1School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Insights
In cardiovascular patients, higher levels of periodontal pathogens like Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia correlate with increased anti-human heat shock protein 60 (hHSP60) antibodies. This suggests a link between gum disease burden and immune response in heart disease patients.
Area of Science:
- Periodontology
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant global health challenge.
- Periodontal infections are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to systemic diseases.
- Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play roles in cellular stress responses and inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the load of specific periodontal pathogens and the levels of anti-human heat shock protein 60 (hHSP60) antibodies in patients with established CVD.
- To explore potential links between oral health and systemic immune markers in individuals with cardiovascular conditions.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the load of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in 74 cardiovascular patients.
- Serum antibody levels against these pathogens, GroEL, and hHSP60 were measured using ELISA.
- Periodontal pocketing was assessed to correlate with pathogen load and antibody levels.
Main Results:
- A trend indicated higher anti-hHSP60 antibody levels with an increased number of detected bacterial species.
- Strong positive correlations were observed between anti-hHSP60 levels and Tannerella forsythia load (r=0.43; p<0.001).
- Patients with extensive periodontal pocketing (≥4 mm) exhibited higher loads of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia, increased overall subgingival pathogen burden, and significantly elevated anti-hHSP60 levels (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- In patients with established CVD, a higher burden of subgingival infection, particularly with P. gingivalis and T. forsythia, is associated with modestly elevated anti-hHSP60 antibody levels.
- These findings suggest a potential role for periodontal pathogens in modulating the immune response, as indicated by hHSP60 antibody levels, in the context of cardiovascular disease.
Aim:
To determine the relationship between periodontal pathogen load and anti-human heat shock protein 60 (hHSP60) antibodies in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Materials And Methods:
Participants were cardiovascular patients (n = 74) with a previous hospital admission for myocardial infarction. Concurrent periodontal pathogen load of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Serum antibodies to these pathogens, GroEL and hHSP60 were determined using an ELISA.
Results:
There was a trend for increasing anti-hHSP60 antibody as the number of bacterial species increased. The strongest positive correlations were found between anti-hHSP60 levels and numbers of T. forsythia (r = 0.43; p < 0.001) and between anti-hHSP60 and anti-GroEL levels (r = 0.39; p = 0.001). Patients with extensive periodontal pocketing (≥4 mm) had higher numbers of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia (p < 0.05) and a higher subgingival pathogen load (p < 0.05) than patients with minimal pocketing (≤1 site ≥ 4 mm). They also had significantly elevated anti-hHSP60 levels (p < 0.05). Overall, the highest anti-hHSP60 levels were seen in patients with extensive periodontal pocketing and all four bacterial species.
Conclusions:
In cardiovascular patients, a greater burden of subgingival infection with increased levels of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia is associated with modestly higher anti-hHSP60 levels.
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