Periodontopathogen antibodies in the bloodstream indicate exposure to periodontal pathogens. Inflammation such as that present in periodontal disease modifies lipoprotein metabolism and composition. Now, researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland are investigating the association between serum periodontopathogen antibody levels and various metabolite levels.
The study comprised 2,398 subjects whose serum antibody levels against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were determined by multiserotype-ELISA. A nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics platform determined 68 metabolic variables, including lipoprotein particles, fatty acids, amino acids, metabolic substrates, glycoproteins, and ketone bodies.
P gingivalis IgG antibody levels were associated negatively with Apolipoprotein A-I, HDL-bound cholesterol, and especially cholesterol bound to larger HDL particles. There also was negative association in P gingivalis IgA antibody levels with serum total cholesterol and A actinomycetemcomitans IgG.
The authors concluded that exposure to the major periodontal pathogens P gingivalis and A actinomycetemcomitans is associated with a proatherogenic lipoprotein profile, especially low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These results are in line with previous findings were periodontal disease is shown to associate with atherogenic diseases.
Doctoral student Jaako Leskela of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases at the University of Helsinki presented the study, “Metabolomic Profiling of Antibody Response to Periodontal Pathogens,” on June 22 during the 97th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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