Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Circulation, CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071310. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071310 Dr. Shunsuke Miyauchi et al.
Points
- Researchers found that Porphyromonas gingivalis can migrate from gum tissue to the heart, increasing the risk of atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation in a mouse model of periodontitis.
- Infected mice exhibited significantly higher AF inducibility and atrial fibrosis than controls, suggesting a mechanistic link between periodontal infection and heart rhythm disorders.
- Human atrial tissue from AF patients revealed the presence of P. gingivalis, which was correlated with the severity of gum disease and the extent of atrial fibrosis.
- The study indicates that oral bacteria may directly contribute to heart tissue remodeling, offering a biological explanation for the association between periodontitis and atrial fibrillation.
- Maintaining oral health and exploring periodontal treatments could reduce systemic inflammation and lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases like atrial fibrillation.
Summary
This study explored the relationship between the periodontal bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis and atrial fibrillation (AF) through its translocation to the heart. The researchers used a mouse model to simulate periodontitis by inoculating P. gingivalis into the tooth pulp. After 18 weeks, the infected mice had a significantly higher rate of AF inducibility (30%) compared to controls (5%, P = 0.04). The infected group exhibited 21.9% atrial fibrosis, higher than the control group’s 16.3% (P = 0.0003). The study showed that P. gingivalis translocates from the gums to the left atrium, contributing to fibrosis and increasing the risk of AF.
A human study obtained left atrial tissue samples from 68 AF patients undergoing surgery. P. gingivalis was found in these tissues, and its presence correlated with the clinical severity of periodontitis. Specifically, the number of P. gingivalis in the atrial tissue was positively associated with the degree of periodontal epithelial surface area (ρ = 0.35, P = 0.004), periodontal inflamed surface area (ρ = 0.52, P < 0.0001), and atrial fibrosis (ρ = 0.38, P = 0.002). These findings suggest a direct link between gum disease and atrial fibrosis, explaining the increased risk of AF in individuals with periodontitis.
The study highlights the potential for periodontal treatments to prevent AF by blocking the entry of P. gingivalis into the bloodstream. As such, oral health interventions could be crucial in reducing the burden of AF. Future research will focus on understanding how P. gingivalis affects atrial cardiomyocytes and enhancing collaboration between dental and medical professionals to address cardiovascular disease, including AF. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining oral hygiene to mitigate systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risks associated with periodontitis.
Link to the article: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071310
References Miyauchi, S., Kawada-Matsuo, M., Furusho, H., Nishi, H., Nakajima, A., Phat, P. T., Shiba, F., Kitagawa, M., Ouhara, K., Oda, N., Tokuyama, T., Okubo, Y., Okamura, S., Takasaki, T., Takahashi, S., Hiyama, T., Kawaguchi, H., Komatsuzawa, H., Miyauchi, M., & Nakano, Y. (2025). Atrial translocation of porphyromonas gingivalis exacerbates atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation. Circulation, CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071310. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071310
