Mechanisms for Periodontal Disease to Lead to an Increased Risk of Atherosclerosis: Analytical Essay

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?

We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.

You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Click Here To Order Now!

Mechanisms for Periodontal Disease to Lead to an Increased Risk of Atherosclerosis: Analytical Essay

Through which mechanisms might periodontal disease lead to an increased risk of atherosclerosis?

Introduction

Periodontal disease is the irreversible chronic inflammation of surrounding and supporting structures of teeth (periodontal ligament) and it affects around 20-25% of the global population (Nazir. MA, 2017), its caused due to the infection from various gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, mainly; Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola. They create a biofilm layer which later develops into subgingival plaque, leading to alveolar bone resorption and ultimately exfoliation of teeth, these are characteristic features of periodontitis.

Atherosclerosis is also a chronic inflammatory condition which occurs as a result of hyperlipidemia, it is characterized by plaque deposits known as atheroma in major arteries. The process by which atherosclerotic plaque develops is demonstrated in figure 1, Its a multifactorial process, with one of the debated risk factors being periodontal disease and thereby the mechanism of its involvement in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

There have been several epidemiological studies which highlight an association between these two chronic inflammatory conditions, concluding that periodontal disease increases the risk and accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis (Miyaki et al. 2006, Ahn et al. 2016). In this review, I aim to explore the key mechanisms that studies have previously covered regarding this association. Many pathophysiological pathways have been proposed with regards to the link between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis, they can be divided into direct; bacteremia/endotoxemia as well as bacterial invasion and activation of endothelial cells and indirect mechanisms; molecular mimicry/autoimmunity and induction of inflammation.

Figure 1 (Xu. S, et al. 2016) illustrates the process of atherogenesis; it involves adhesion of monocytes to the endothelial cell surface, migration of monocytes to the subendothelial space, ingestion of LDLs by macrophages leading to formation of foam cells which are characteristic of atherosclerosis, together with T cells form a fatty streak, smooth muscle cells migrate from the media to the intima and proliferate as the lesion progresses to form atherosclerotic plaques.

Figure 2 (Chistiakov et al. 2016) This figure summarises the effects periodontal pathogens have on host cells with regards to the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis

Direct mechanisms

Bacteremia/endotoxemia

Bacteraemia refers to the presence of bacteria in systemic circulation whilst endotoxemia is the presence of endotoxins (bacterial components) within systemic circulation. Given that the periodontal tissue is very well vascularized, which aids the entrance of periodontal pathogens into the bloodstream, this process occurs with such ease that it has been found that both bacteria and endotoxins from the oral cavity can enter systemic circulation during processes as simple as mastication and flossing (Geerts, SO. et al. 2002; Crasta, K. et al. 2009). Once within the bloodstream the bacteria and endotoxins either circulate the blood extracellularly or bound to a phagocytic cell before they are deposited to have their effects on various cells to promote atherogenesis, figure 2. Periodontal pathogens, including P.gingivalis, have been identified within atheroma using PCR (Haraszthy, V.I. et al. 2000), not only indicating the presence of periodontal pathogens within systemic circulation but also their involvement in atherogenesis.

Invasion and activation of endothelial cells

Once within the bloodstream, the periodontal pathogens must evade the hosts immune system in order to have their effect, one of the ways in which they do this is by the invasion of endothelial cells. A pioneering study by Deshpande et al. (1998) proved the ability of P.gingivalis to invade human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a highly efficient process which requires the expression of major fimbriae (41 kDa) for both adherence and invasion of the endothelial cells. A two-step process for the interaction of P.gingivalis with host cells was been proposed; initial attachment mediated via 41 kDa major fimbriae, followed by a more intimate interaction mediated by minor fimbriae facilitating endocytosis of P.gingivalis. (Lamont and Jenkinson 1998. Njoroge et al. 1997. Takashaki et al. 2005). T.denticola has also shown the ability to invade endothelial cells via endocytosis, the pathogen was identified within endothelial cells using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of atherosclerotic plaque (Chukkapalli et al. 2014).

Once within the endothelial cells, the periodontal pathogens cause a series of events to initiate and promote atherogenesis. T.denticola causes a significant increase in known atherosclerotic risk factors, including VLDL, oxidized LDL serum levels, and pro-inflammatory mediators, leading to initiation of plaque formation following hyperlipidemia (Chukkapalli et al. 2014).

P.gingivalis causes increased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) secretion from endothelial cells (Kang and Kuramitsu, 2002), the role of MCP-1 is to cause the transmigration of monocytes through endothelial cells which ultimately leads to the formation of foam cells, these are characteristic of atheroma (figure 1). But for MCP-1 production to occur P.gingivalis must express major fimbriae (41kDa) as this only occurs once P.gingivalis is within the endothelial cell, and as mentioned, invasion of endothelial cells is fimbriae-mediated. This was confirmed when endothelial cells were cocultured with P.gingivalis whilst inhibiting endocytosis, the result was that no MCP-1 was produced (Takahashi et al. 2005). Other pro-inflammatory molecules are also produced during this interaction including; IL-1², IL-8, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin (Takahashi et al. 2005). The mechanism by which these chemokines were produced is unclear, but the basis is due to cytoskeleton rearrangement. T.denticola was also found to induce the production of IL-8 and MCP-1 in endothelial cells by stimulating mRNA expression, transcription, and translation ultimately leading to the progression of atheroma formation (Okuda et al. 2007). The production of these chemokines is one of the first steps in developing an early atherosclerotic lesion.

Interestingly, Nassar et al. (2002) found that P.gingivalis can modulate the production of chemokines and adhesion molecules including; MCP-1 and IL-8, intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), and vascular cellular adhesion molecules (VCAM-1) in endothelial cells via fimbriae- and gingipain-mediated mechanisms, more specifically lysine-specific cysteine proteinase (gingipain K). Gingipains are a group of proteases secreted by P.gingivalis and their primary function is to degrade cytokines hence downregulating the hosts immune response. However, it was later discovered that endothelial cells treated with gingipains secreted by P.gingivalis exhibited a rapid loss of cell adhesion properties followed by apoptosis, hence causing detachment and death of these cells (Sheets et al. 2005). The stark difference between these two findings are likely due to the type of endothelial cells that were used; Nassar et al. used HUVEC whilst Sheets et al. used human arterial endothelial cells (HAEC), due to chemical differences between these two cells and given that atheroma develop within arteries rather than veins, it is reasonable to assume the findings of Sheets et al. to be more applicable to atherogenesis with regards the effects of gingipains on arterial endothelial cells. This would lead to vascular tissue destruction, which is indicated in atherosclerotic lesion progression, figure 1.

Indirect mechanisms

Molecular mimicry/autoimmunity

Molecular mimicry is the process by which an autoimmune response is initiated due to similarities in amino acid sequence between self-molecules and foreign antigens, this process involves the activation of T and B lymphocytes (Froude J et al, 1989). With regards to atherogenesis, molecular mimicry would involve the targeting of the hosts immune response against the host proteins expressed by endothelial cells in the vascular wall. Arterial endothelial cells express human heat shock protein 60 (hHSP60) on their cell surface in response to stress factors such as temperature or infection, the function of hHSP60 is to initiate an intracellular signaling cascade which mediates a range of inflammatory responses including the release of cytokines. Bacteria, including the periodontal pathogen P.gingivalis, express bacterial heat shock proteins known as GroEL, both these proteins are very well conserved meaning their sequences do not differ much between species. It has been proposed that cross-reactivity of the hosts immune response between hHSP60 and bacterial GroEL occurs (Ford P.J. et al. 2005; Ford P et al., 2004), meaning the hosts anti-P. gingivalis GroEL antibodies have been found to induce an immune response against stressed endothelial cells which ultimately leads to endothelial cell dysfunction hence atherosclerosis progression.

A study was undertaken to investigate the proposed cross-reactivity reaction. The results showed that anti-P.gingivalis antibodies levels were significantly higher in atherosclerosis patients with advanced periodontitis compared to those with periodontal health (Yamazaki et al. 2004). Clonal analysis of the T cells demonstrated the presence of both hHSP60- and GroEL-reactive T-cell populations within systemic circulation of the atherosclerosis patients who also suffer from periodontitis, they were also found within periodontal pockets and atherosclerotic plaque lesions. This indicates that both these T cells may have similar specificity to both hHSP60 and GroEL, and so anti-P. gingivalis GroEL antibodies can react with hHSP60 expressed on injured endothelial cells and therefore are both involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by means of endothelial cell dysfunction.

In addition, Th1 and Th2 cells specific to P.gingivalis GroEL were extracted from atherosclerotic lesions of periodontitis patients indicating that the immune response to this bacterium is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (Choi J.I. et al. 2002)

Induction of inflammation

The presence of periodontal pathogens in systemic circulation has been shown to also influence the inflammatory stage of atherogenesis; more specifically in the development of an early atherosclerotic lesion (figure 1). The ways in which this inflammation is induced has been found to be as follows:

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are involved in the innate immune system when activated they induce a signalling cascade which induces production of pro-inflammatory cytokines hence an immune response. P.gingivalis causes increased expression of TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR6, and TLR9 on the surface of endothelial cells upon fimbriae-dependent invasion of endothelial cells (Yumoto H, et al 2005). It has also been found that more specifically TLR2 and TLR4 are heavily involved in inducing an inflammatory response characteristic of early atherosclerotic lesions specifically inflammatory activation of endothelial cells and macrophages (Edfeldt K. et al. 2002)

Release of TNF-± and IL-1² systemically occurs due to systemic exposure to gram-negative bacteria specifically LPS that these bacteria express which are involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease following bacteremia and endotoxemia (Hesse D.G. et al. 1988; Michie H.R. et al. 1988; Koopmans R. et al. 1994; Iacopino A.M., and Cutler C.W., 2000). These 2 cytokines are involved in the cytokine cascade TNF-± being the first factor followed by IL-1², these indirectly affect lipid production in the liver due to their effect on release of other cytokines hence increasing LDL and free fatty acid serum levels which leads to hyperlipidemia, an undisputed risk factor for atherosclerosis (Van der Poll T and Saurwein HP, 1993; Iacopino A.M., and Cutler C.W., 2000).

Finally, the cytokines released upon endothelial cell activation; IL-1², IL-8, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin, cause localized inflammation which is one of the key steps in progression of early atherosclerotic lesions.

Conclusion

The mechanisms discussed show biological plausibility and appear to have the capacity to promote atherosclerosis both independently and collectively. The association found in epidemiological studies indicating an increased risk of atherosclerosis in subjects with periodontal disease now has many proposed mechanisms via both direct and indirect effects. These effects are initiated following bacteremia and endotoxemia of periodontal pathogens and their components. Then the bacteria, namely P.gingivalis and T.denticola, can either have direct effects on endothelial cells following their invasion, including; promoting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and MCP-1, causing detachment and apoptosis of endothelial cells in a gingipain-mediated mechanism, both of which lead to progression of atherosclerosis. Or indirect effects which involve: molecular mimicry; induction of the immune system against self-molecules, namely the similar specificity between antibodies directed against hHSP60 and P.gingivalis GroEL, and induction of inflammation both locally and systemically to cause progression of early atherosclerotic lesions.

References:

Xu S, Bendeck M, Gotlieb A.I., (2016), Chapter 3 Vascular Pathobiology: Atherosclerosis and Large Vessel Disease in Buja M.L and Butany J (eds) Cardiovascular pathology (fourth edition) pp. 85-124
Nazir M.A., (2017), Prevalence of Periodontal Disease, Its Association with Systemic Disease and Prevention International Journal of Health Sciences 11(2) pp. 72-80
Miyaki K, Masaki K, Naito M, Naito T, Hoshi K, Hara A, Tohyama S and Nakayama T, (2006), Periodontal Disease And Atherosclerosis From The Viewpoint Of The Relationship Between Community Periodontal Index Of Treatment Needs And Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity BMC Public Health 6, 131 (2006) doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-131
Ahn Y.B., Shin M.S., Han D.H., Sukhbaatar M, Kim M.S., Shin H.S., Kim H.D., (2016), Periodontitis Is Associated with The Risk of Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Peripheral Arterial Disease in Korean Adults Atherosclerosis 251 (2016) pp.311-318
Geerts S.O., Nys M, De Mol P, Charpentier J, Albert A, Legrand V, and Rompen E.H., (2002), Systemic Release of Endotoxins Induced by Gentle Mastication: Association with Periodontitis Severity J Periodontal 73(1) pp.72-78
Crasta, K., Daly, C.G., Mitchell, D., Curtis, B., Stewart, D., Heitz-Mayfield, L.J.A., (2009), Bacteraemia Due to Dental Flossing Journal of Clinical Periodontology 36(4) pp.323-332
Lamont, R.J., and Jenkinson, H.F. (1998) Life below the gum line: pathogenic mechanisms of Porphyromonas gingival Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 62(4) pp.12441263.
Njoroge T, Genco R.J., Sojar H.T., Hamada, N., and Genco, C.A. (1997) A role of fimbriae in Porphyromonas gingivalis invasion of oral epithelial cells Infection and Immunity 65(5) pp.19801984.
Kang I.C. and Kuramitsu H.K. (2002) Induction of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 by Porphyromonas gingivalis in Human Endothelial Cells Immunology and Medical Microbiology 34 pp.311-317
Takahashi Y, Davey M, Yumoto H, Gibson F.C., Genco C.A., (2005) Fimbria-Dependent Activation of Pro-inflammatory Molecules in Porphyromonas gingivalis Infacted Human Aortic Endothelial Cells Cellular Microbiology 8(5) pp.738-757
Nassar H, Chou H.H., Khlgatian M, Gibson F.C., Van Dyke T.E., Genco C.A., Role for Fimbriae and Lysine-Specific Cysteine Proteinase Gingipain K in Expression of Interleukin-8 and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein in Porphyromonas gingivalis-Infected Endothelial Cells Infection and Immunity 70(1) pp. 268-276
Haraszthy V.I., Zambon J.J., Trevisan M, Zeid M, Genco R.J., (2000) Identification of Periodontal Pathogens in Atheromatous Plaques J Periodontal 71(10) pp.1554-1560
Deshpande R.G., Khan M.B., Genco C.A., (1998) Invasion of Aortic and Heart Endothelial Cells by Porphyromonas gingival Infection and Immunity 66(11) pp.5337-5343
Chukkapalli S.S., Rivera M.F., Velsko I.M., Lee J.Y., Chen H, Zheng D, Bhattacharyya I, Gangula P.R., Lucas A.R., Kesavalu L, (2014) Invasion of Oral and Aortic Tissues by Oral Spirochete Treponema denticola in ApoE/ Mice Causally Links Periodontal Disease and Atherosclerosis Infection and Immunity 82(5) pp.1959-1967
Sheets S.M., Potempa J, Travis J, Casiano C.A. Fletcher H.M., (2005) Gingipains from Porphyromonas gingivalis W83 Induce Cell Adhesion Molecule Cleavage and Apoptosis in Endothelial Cells Infection and Immunity 73(3) pp.1543-1552
Okuda T, Kimizuke R, Miyamoto M, Kato T, Yamada S, Okuda K, Ishihara K, (2007) Treponema denticola Induces Interleukin-8 and Macrophage Chemoattractant Protein 1 Production in Human Umbilical Vein Epithelial Cells Microbes and Infection 9 pp.907-913
Froude J., Gibofsky A., Buskirk D.R., Khanna A., Zabriskie J.B. (1989) Cross-Reactivity Between Streptococcus and Human Tissue: A Model of Molecular Mimicry and Autoimmunity In Oldstone M.B.A. (eds) Molecular Mimicry. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 145 pp.5-26
Chistiakov D.A., Orekhov A.N., Bobryshev Y.V., (2016) Links Between Atherosclerotic and Periodontal Disease Experimental and Molecular Pathology 100 pp.220-235
Yamazaki K, Ohsawa Y, Tabeta K, Ito H, Ueki K, Oda T, Yoshie H, Seymour G.J., (2002) Accumulation of Human Heat Shock Protein 60-Reactive T cells in the Gingival tissues of Periodontitis Patients Infection and Immunity 70(5) pp.2492-2501
Choi J.I., Chung S.W., Kang H.S., Rhim B.Y., Kim S.J., (2002) Establishment of Porphyromonas gingivalis heat-shock-protein-specific T-cell lines from atherosclerosis patients J Dental 81 pp.344-348
Edfeldt, K., Swedenborg, J., Hansson, G. and Yan, Z. (2002). Expression of Toll-Like Receptors in Human Atherosclerotic Lesions. Circulation, 105(10), pp.1158-1161.
Michie HR, Manogue KR, Spriggs DR. (1988) Detection of Circulating Tumor Necrosis Factor After Endotoxin Administration N Engl J Med 318 pp.1481-1486
Hesse DG, Tracey KJ, Fong Y. (1988) Cytokine Appearance in Human Endotoxemia and Primate Bacteremia Surg Gynecol Obstet 166 pp.147-153
Koopmans R, Hoek FJ, van Deventer SJH, van der Poll T. (1994) Model for whole body production of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Experimental Endotoxemia in Healthy Subjects Clin Sci 87 pp.459-465.
Van der Poll T, Saurwein HP. (1993) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha: its role in the metabolic response to sepsis Clin Sci 84 pp.247-256.
Iacopino A.M., and Cutler C.W., (2000) Pathophysiology Relationships Between Periodontitis and Systemic Disease: Recent Concepts Involving Serum Lipids J Periodontal 71(8) pp.1375-1384

Click Here To Order Now!