Metabolic Profile of Supragingival Plaque Exposed to Arginine and Fluoride

Abstract

Caries lesions develop when acid production from bacterial metabolism of dietary carbohydrates outweighs the various mechanisms that promote pH homeostasis, including bacterial alkali production. Therapies that provide arginine as a substrate for alkali production in supragingival oral biofilms have strong anticaries potential. The objective of this study was to investigate the metabolic profile of site-specific supragingival plaque in response to the use of arginine (Arg: 1.5% arginine, fluoride-free) or fluoride (F: 1,100 ppm F/NaF) toothpastes. Eighty-three adults of different caries status were recruited and assigned to treatment with Arg or F for 12 wk. Caries lesions were diagnosed using International Caries Detection and Assessment System II, and plaque samples were collected from caries-free and carious tooth surfaces. Taxonomic profiles were obtained by HOMINGS (Human Oral Microbe Identification using Next Generation Sequencing), and plaque metabolism was assessed by the levels of arginine catabolism via the arginine deiminase pathway (ADS), acidogenicity, and global metabolomics. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares–discriminant analysis, analysis of variance, and random forest tests were used to distinguish metabolic profiles. Of the 509 active lesions diagnosed at baseline, 70 (14%) were inactive after 12 wk. Generalized linear model showed that enamel lesions were significantly more likely to become inactive compared to dentin lesions ( P < 0.0001), but no difference was found when treatment with Arg was compared to F ( P = 0.46). Arg significantly increased plaque ADS activity ( P = 0.031) and plaque pH values after incubation with glucose ( P = 0.001). F reduced plaque lactate production from endogenous sources ( P = 0.02). PCA revealed differences between the metabolic profiles of plaque treated with Arg or F. Arg significantly affected the concentrations of 16 metabolites, including phenethylamine, agmatine, and glucosamine-6-phosphate ( P < 0.05), while F affected the concentrations of 9 metabolites, including phenethylamine, N-methyl-glutamate, and agmatine ( P < 0.05). The anticaries mechanisms of action of arginine and fluoride are distinct. Arginine metabolism promotes biofilm pH homeostasis, whereas fluoride is thought to enhance resistance of tooth minerals to low pH and reduce acid production by supragingival oral biofilms.

Probiotic Effects on Multispecies Biofilm Composition, Architecture, and Caries Activity In Vitro

“…We likely ascribe this contribution to the modification of inherent ADS activity: Evidence from both clinical and laboratory studies suggest a positive relationship between ADS activity and dental health. ADS contributes to pH homeostasis by generating alkali from arginine metabolism, and thereby reduces the ecological advantage of aciduric pathogens, which is grounded in a positive regulation between microflora acidification and aciduric bacterial selection [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. The arginolytic strains L. reuteri and S. oligofermentans were able to constantly neutralize acid products via the ADS route and slow down the caries process.…”

Evidencia sobre el efecto anticariogénico de pastas dentales que contienen arginina: una revisión sistemática

“…En 4 estudios analizados, los participantes fueron niños y adolescentes (17,23, 24,26) y, en 3 de ellos, los participantes fueron adultos (3,25,27). Los niños y adolescentes participantes pertenecían a escuelas primarias y secundarias.…”

“…Con respecto al diseño de estudio, 6 estudios fueron clínicos aleatorizados, controlados y doble ciego (3,16,23,24,26,27) y, 1 fue un estudio clínico aleatorizado, simple y ciego (25). Los participantes de todos los estudios reportaron estar sistémicamente sanos, sin historial de reacciones adversas a la arginina, sin antecedentes de uso de antibióticos previo al período de estudio.…”

Metaproteome and metabolome of oral microbial communities

“…The gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis revealed a difference between the two origins of the plaque samples, particularly associated with higher levels of branched alcohols and esters in caries‐active sampling sites. Furthermore, Nascimento et al 179 examined the influence of either arginine (1.5%) or fluoride (1100 ppm) containing pastes for 12 weeks on dental plaque samples from adult donors that were caries‐active or caries‐free, and in active donors which were at dentinal or enamel‐associated sites or caries‐free sites. The liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry approach revealed 3447 metabolite features, which mapped onto 208 known metabolites.…”