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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells
Published on: December 17, 2015
Effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis Infection on PGC-1α in Skeletal Muscle After Endurance Training In Vivo
Kairi Hayashi1,2, Yasuo Takeuchi3, Hiroaki Kobayashi4
1Department of Masticatory Function and Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Objectives:
It is well known that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major pathogen in periodontitis, causes systemic diseases. This study investigated the expression of PGC-1α (the most important factor in muscle mitochondria synthesis) following endurance training to clarify the relationship between P. gingivalis infection and muscle endurance capacity.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty 8-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups. One group was intraperitoneally administered sonicated P. gingivalis (P. g-group), and the other group was administered saline (Control-group). Three weeks after administration, gastrocnemius muscles and blood from both groups were collected 24 h after treadmill exercise. The expressions of PGC-1α and TNF-α in gastrocnemius muscle were measured, along with serum antibody titers for IgG, in response to P. gingivalis.
Results:
Serum IgG antibody titers and TNF-α expression in skeletal muscle were significantly higher in the P. g-group than in the Control-group. PGC-1α expression was significantly lower in the P. g-group than in the Control-group. A correlation was observed between PGC-1α and TNF-α expression.
Conclusion:
Our result suggests that the increase in endurance following training may be suppressed by P. gingivalis infection.
