Wang Qian, Zhou Xuedong, Huang Dingming
The Department of Endodontics, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No. 14, Third Section, Renmin Nan Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
Med Hypotheses. 2009 Jan;72(1):71-3. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2008.04.030. Epub 2008 Sep 30.
An association between atherosclerosis and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a major periodontopathogen, has been shown. However, the question of whether this relationship is causal or coincidental still exist. Many individuals with evidence of atherosclerosis demonstrate seropositivity to this pathogen. Both in vitro studies and in animal models document that P. gingivalis can accelerate atheroma deposition. Recently, evidence from diverse sources has suggested P. gingivalis can activate host innate immune responses associated with atherosclerosis. These studies confirm that the inflammatory response to P. gingivalis could exacerbate vascular inflammation via secreted cytokines and/or chemokines that ultimately modulate early atherogenesis that spontaneously develop atherosclerosis. Meanwhile, the cytokine and chemokines interact in the progression of atherosclerosis. Moreover, the reaction of endothelial cells in response to P. gingivalis and its various virulence factors are diverse, the expression of chemokine differ through different signal transduction pathways accordingly. Results from these studies reinforce the connection between P. gingivalis and atherosclerosis. Given the role of P. gingivalis in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, attaching importance to periodontal disease may offer new therapeutic options for the management of patients with atherosclerosis.
动脉粥样硬化与主要牙周病原体牙龈卟啉单胞菌（P. gingivalis）之间的关联已得到证实。然而，这种关系是因果关系还是巧合仍存在疑问。许多有动脉粥样硬化证据的个体对这种病原体呈血清阳性。体外研究和动物模型均表明，牙龈卟啉单胞菌可加速动脉粥样硬化斑块的形成。最近，来自不同来源的证据表明，牙龈卟啉单胞菌可激活与动脉粥样硬化相关的宿主固有免疫反应。这些研究证实，对牙龈卟啉单胞菌的炎症反应可通过分泌的细胞因子和/或趋化因子加剧血管炎症，最终调节自发发展为动脉粥样硬化的早期动脉粥样硬化形成。同时，细胞因子和趋化因子在动脉粥样硬化的进展中相互作用。此外，内皮细胞对牙龈卟啉单胞菌及其各种毒力因子的反应各不相同，趋化因子的表达相应地通过不同的信号转导途径而有所差异。这些研究结果加强了牙龈卟啉单胞菌与动脉粥样硬化之间的联系。鉴于牙龈卟啉单胞菌在动脉粥样硬化的发生和发展中的作用，重视牙周疾病可能为动脉粥样硬化患者的治疗提供新的选择。
