Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice
Published on: October 10, 2025
Periodontopathogenic microbiota, infectious mechanisms and preterm birth: analysis with structural equations
Elisa Miranda Costa1, Camilla Silva de Araujo Figueiredo2, Rafiza Félix Marão Martins3
1Department of Public Health, Federal University of Maranhão, Rua Barão de Itapary, 155 - Centro, São Luís, Maranhão, CEP 65020-070, Brazil. elisamirandac@hotmail.com.
Insights
Periodontopathogenic bacteria burden did not directly link to preterm birth (PTB). However, lower levels of IL-10 and TGF-β cytokines, along with other systemic infections during pregnancy, were associated with increased PTB risk.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Periodontology
- Immunology
Background:
- The link between periodontopathogenic microbiota and preterm birth (PTB) is established, yet underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions to prevent PTB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of periodontopathogenic bacteria burden (PBB), periodontal disease, and other infections during pregnancy on PTB.
- To elucidate the role of specific cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β) in the relationship between these factors and PTB using Structural Equation Modeling.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study nested within the prospective BRISA cohort, including 110 PTB cases and 220 controls.
- Data collected on cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β), periodontal disease, PBB, age, socioeconomic status, and systemic infections.
- Correlations analyzed using Standardized Coefficient (SC) within a Structural Equation Model framework.
Main Results:
- Increased PBB was associated with periodontal disease but not directly with PTB or the studied cytokines.
- Lower serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-β were significantly correlated with a higher occurrence of PTB.
- Presence of other systemic infections during pregnancy also independently predicted higher PTB occurrence.
Conclusions:
- Severe periodontal disease and other systemic infections may influence PTB by altering the inflammatory cytokine cascade.
- The direct impact of PBB on PTB appears mediated by other factors, potentially including systemic inflammation and immune response modulation.
Purpose:
The association between periodontopathogenic microbiota and preterm birth (PTB) has been overly studied. However, the biological mechanisms involved are little known. The objective is to evaluate the effect of periodontopathogenic bacteria burden (PBB), periodontal disease and other infections during pregnancy on preterm birth (PTB), through Structural Equation Modeling.
Methods:
This was a case-control study nested in a prospective cohort called BRISA, including 330 pregnant women, 110 cases and 220 controls. This study included the following variables: cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), periodontal disease, PBB, age, socioeconomic status (SES), systemic infections and PTB. The correlations between variables were analyzed using Standardized Coefficient (SC).
Results:
Greater PBB interfered positively with the occurrence of periodontal disease (SC: 0.027; p: 0.011), but these were not associated with the cytokines studied, nor with PTB. The lower serum levels of IL-10 (SC - 0.330; p 0.022) and TGF-β (SC - 0.612; p < 0.001), and the presence of other systemic infections during pregnancy (SC 0.159; 0.049) explained the higher occurrence of PTB.
Conclusion:
It is possible that only the more severe periodontal disease and other systemic infections are capable of altering the cascade of cytokines regulating the inflammatory process and have an effect on the occurrence of PTB.
