RESEARCH - Antibody responses to periodontopathic bacteria in relation to RA in Japanese adults

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J Periodontol. 2011 Feb 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Antibody Responses to Periodontopathic Bacteria in Relation to

Rheumatoid Arthritis in Japanese Adults.

Okada M, Kobayashi T, Ito S, Yokoyama T, Komatsu Y, Abe A, Murasawa A, Yoshie H.

Division of Periodontology, Department of Oral Biological Science,

Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,

Niigata, Japan.

Abstract

Background: Periodontopathic bacteria have been implicated as

contributory to the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-cyclic

citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF) were

shown to be associated with RA. This study was undertaken to examine

whether serum levels of antibodies to periodontopathic bacteria may

affect clinical and laboratory profiles of RA.

Methods: The study subjects consisted of 80 patients with RA and 38

age-, gender-, smoking status-, and periodontal condition-balanced

healthy controls. After periodontal and rheumatologic examination,

serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to Porphyromonas

gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Aggregatibacter

actinomycetemcomitans, and Eikenella corrodens and those of anti-CCP

antibodies and RF were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent

assay.

Results: RA patients showed significantly higher levels of anti-P.

gingivalis and anti-CCP antibodies than controls (P = 0.04 and P <

0.0001). In contrast, IgG responses to A. actinomycetemcomitans and E.

corrodens in RA patients were significantly lower than those in

controls (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression

analysis revealed a significant association of anti-P. gingivalis and

anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans IgG responses with RA, after adjustment

for age, gender, and smoking (P = 0.005 and P = 0.02). Anti-P.

gingivalis titer displayed a significant correlation with RF levels,

probing depth, and clinical attachment level (P = 0.03, P = 0.03, and

P = 0.02).

Conclusions: These results suggest that serum levels of anti-P.

gingivalis IgG antibodies were associated with RA, and might affect

serum levels of RF and periodontal condition in RA patients.

PMID: 21342003

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21342003

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