Periodontitis and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Mechanistic Evidence.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Immunology
• Oral Medicine
• Microbiome Research

Background:

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a complex condition involving chronic gut inflammation.
• Focusing solely on intestinal factors is insufficient for understanding IBD pathogenesis.
• The link between periodontitis and IBD, known as the oral-gut axis, is gaining research attention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an integrated review of the oral-gut axis in IBD.
• To explore the gut seeding of oral pathobionts and their mechanisms in IBD.
• To identify factors contributing to oral pathobiont translocation and their role in IBD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing current research on the oral-gut axis in IBD.
• Analysis of immune cell and microbiota involvement in inter-organ communication.
• Exploration of pathobiont translocation mechanisms from oral to intestinal sites.

Main Results:

• Oral pathobionts can translocate to the gut, contributing to IBD pathology.
• Immune cells and commensal microbiota mediate the periodontitis-IBD axis.
• Specific factors facilitate the gut seeding of oral pathobionts, highlighting the oral-gut connection.

Conclusions:

• The oral-gut axis is a significant factor in IBD pathophysiology.
• Understanding immune-microbial dynamics across mucosal sites is crucial for IBD research.
• Elucidating the oral-gut axis may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for IBD and oral diseases.