Immunoglobulin G and A Antibody Responses toBacteroides forsythusandPrevotella intermediain Sera and Synovial Fluids of Arthritis Patients

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibody immune responses to Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Bacteroides forsythus, and Candida albicans in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the synovial fluid (SF) of patients with RA (RA-SF samples), and the SF of patients without RA (non-RA-SF samples). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine IgG and IgA antibody levels in 116 serum samples from patients with RA, 52 RA-SF samples, and 43 non-RA-SF samples; and these were compared with those in SF samples from 9 patients with osteoarthritis (OA-SF samples) and the blood from 100 donors (the control [CTR] group). Higher levels of IgG antibodies against B. forsythus (P < 0.0001) and P. intermedia (P < 0.0001) were found in non-RA-SF samples than in OA-SF samples, and higher levels of IgG antibodies against B. forsythus (P ‫؍‬ 0.003) and P. intermedia (P ‫؍‬ 0.024) were found in RA-SF samples than in OA-SF samples. Significantly higher levels of IgA antibodies against B. forsythus were demonstrated in both RA-SF and non-RA-SF samples than in OA-SF samples. When corrected for total Ig levels, levels of IgG antibody against B. forsythus were elevated in RA-SF and non-RA-SF samples compared to those in OA-SF samples. Lower levels of Ig antibodies against B. forsythus were found in the sera of patients with RA than in the plasma of the CTR group for both IgG (P ‫؍‬ 0.003) and IgA (P < 0.0001). When corrected for total Ig levels, the levels of IgG and IgA antibodies against B. forsythus were still found to be lower in the sera from patients with RA than in the plasma of the CTR group (P < 0.0001). The levels of antibodies against P. gingivalis and C. albicans in the sera and SF of RA and non-RA patients were comparable to those found in the respective controls. The levels of IgG and IgA antibodies against B. forsythus were elevated in SF from patients with RA and non-RA-SF samples compared to those in OA-SF samples. Significantly lower levels of IgG and IgA antibodies against B. forsythus were found in the sera of patients with RA than in the plasma of the CTR group. This indicates the presence of an active antibody response in synovial tissue and illustrates a potential connection between periodontal and joint diseases.

Periodontitis and arthritis interaction in mice involves a shared hyper-inflammatory genotype and functional immunological interferences

“…11,12 Indeed, numerous infectious agents, including periodontal bacteria, and antibodies against them have been implicated as contributory to the etiology of RA. 16,58,59 In addition, oral bacterial DNAs were found in synovial fluid of RA patients, suggesting that oral pathogens could have a perpetuating effect in joint disease. 57 However, no changes in the severity of experimental RA (PIA) were observed at clinical or molecular analysis (data not shown).…”

Rheumatoid Arthritis among Periodontitis Patients in Baddi Industrial Estate of Himachal Pradesh, India: A Cross Sectional Study

“…RA occurs worldwide and it affects approximately 1% of the world population in a female/male ratio of 3:1 and has a peak incidence of onset in women in the fourth and fifth decades of life [7,8]. Although the aetiologies of these diseases are distinctly separate, the underlying pathological processes are of sufficient similarity, to warrant consideration of the hypothesis, that individuals at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis may also be at risk of developing periodontitis, or vice versa [9][10][11][12]. In this sense, both conditions are associated with destruction of bone, mediated by inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1, tumoural necrosis factor and prostaglandin E2 [13].…”

Toll-like Receptor

“…157 Anaerobic bacterial DNA and high levels of antibodies against these bacteria have been detected in the serum and synovial fluid from patients with early and late stage of RA. 158,159 Oral bacteria, such as prophyromonas gingivalis by molecular mimicry of citrullinated enolase, has been suggested to be involved in triggering of the disease. 160 Apart from such possible combined effect of genetic and environmental factors, there is also increasing awareness that innate immune system could directly contribute to onset and lasting course of RA.…”