Etiological elucidation of periodontal disease attributed to EBV

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24592843
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pathobiological dentistry/Dental radiology
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: IMAI kenichi 日本大学, 歯学部, 准教授 (60381810)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ＥＢＶ / 歯周病 / 炎症性サイトカイン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus that usually results in latent infection of B cells. Interestingly, increasing evidence has accumulated over the past 10 years supporting a role for EBV as a pathogenic agent of periodontal disease because bacterial activities alone do not explain several of its clinical characteristics. We established for the first time, more EBV DNA is found deeper in periodontal pockets of chronic periodontitis in Japanese patients. Interestingly, the odds of acquiring chronic periodontitis were higher in the presence of both EBV DNA and P. gingivalis compared with either EBV DNA or P. gingivalis only. In addition, we found that P. gingivalis induced EBV reactivation and EBV stimulated production of inflammatory cytokines. Although additional basic and clinical studies are needed, our findings would suggest a relationship between periodontal disease and EBV reactivation.

Free Research Field

微生物学