Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis mediated by infection of periodontal pathogenic bacteria and citrullinated protein

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09954
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57030:Conservative dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Hatanaka Kazu 岡山大学, 大学病院, 医員 (50362992)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大森 一弘 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 准教授 (20549860) ; 高柴 正悟 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 教授 (50226768)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 歯周病原細菌 / シトルリン化蛋白 / 関節リウマチ / 血清抗体価

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To clarify the association between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis, we investigated infection of periodontal pathogenic bacteria involved in citrullination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and similar diseases.
We found a significant association between elevated serum IgG antibody titers against periodontal bacteria P. gingivalis and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies. Although there was no difference in disease activity before rheumatoid arthritis treatment and antibody titers against P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans, patients with higher antibody titers had a poorer response to treatment after 3 months. No association was found for smoking, a risk factor for both diseases. It was suggested that infection with periodontal pathogenic bacteria may interfere with the therapeutic efficacy of rheumatoid arthritis.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は、関節リウマチ患者の治療反応性に歯周病原細菌の感染が影響している可能性を明らかにした。このことから、両疾患分野に新たな医科歯科連携を提案することができ、将来の医療の進歩に貢献できると考えられる。さらに、歯周病の治療介入による関節リウマチへの影響を調べることによって、両疾患の関連および病態を解明する一助となると考えられる。