Periodontitis and high phosphate intake alone or in combination adversely affect the kidney

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Periodontology
• Immunology

Background:

• Periodontitis and high phosphate (HP) intake pose risks to kidney health, particularly in individuals with existing renal disease.
• This study investigates the impact of these factors on periodontal and renal tissues under normal renal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the individual and combined effects of periodontitis and high phosphate (HP) intake on periodontal and kidney tissues.
• To assess the potential of TNF-α inhibition in mitigating associated renal damage.

Main Methods:

• Rats were assigned to control, HP diet, periodontitis (P), or periodontitis with HP diet (P+HP) groups for 12 weeks.
• Periodontitis was induced via tooth ligation; HP diet contained 0.9% phosphate.
• An additional P+HP group received weekly infliximab (IFX), a TNF-α inhibitor.

Main Results:

• HP intake did not affect periodontal tissues; periodontitis did not worsen with HP intake.
• HP intake increased kidney interstitial fibrosis and Col1a1 expression.
• Periodontitis increased kidney ED1 expression; combined HP and periodontitis significantly exacerbated tubular basophilia, interstitial fibrosis, and macrophage infiltration (ED1).
• IFX treatment reduced periodontal inflammation and renal alterations in the P+HP+IFX group.

Conclusions:

• High phosphate intake alone does not impact periodontal health.
• Combined periodontitis and high phosphate intake exert synergistic adverse effects on the kidney, increasing fibrosis and macrophage infiltration.
• TNF-α inhibition demonstrates potential in ameliorating renal injury caused by the combined insult of periodontitis and high phosphate intake.