Methods: ApoEnull mice (N=24) were orally infected (8 infections, 4 days/week consecutively) with the oral spirochete T. denticola ATCC 35404 at 109 cells mixed with 4% carboxymethylcellulose. T. denticola infected mice were euthanized at 12 and 24 weeks. Oral plaque samples (PCR), serum antibody response (ELISA), gingival inflammation (Histology, histometry), horizontal alveolar bone resorption (morphometry), and intrabony defects were evaluated (Periodontal disease parameters). Heart, aorta, spleen, liver, lungs, and kidney were evaluated for systemic infection by PCR and aorta was examined for atherosclerotic lesion.
Results: T. denticola genomic DNA was detected in oral plaque samples by PCR indicating T. denticola colonization in oral cavity. Infection elicited significantly higher levels of IgG antibodies and enhanced intrabony defects compared to sham-infected control mice. T. denticola specific genomic DNA, aortic plaque, histology and detection of bacteria by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are in progress.
Conclusions: This is the first study examining the effect of 24 weeks of chronic T. denticola induced periodontal disease, bacteremia, systemic infection, and atherosclerosis in vivo in proatherogenic ApoEnull mice.
Keywords: Apoe-/- mice, Cardiovascular disease, Host-microbial interactions, Periodontal disease and Periodontal organisms
See more of: Periodontal Research - Pathogenesis