The study, published August 15, 2024, in the International Journal of Oral Science, examines the molecular mechanisms by which pathogens, specifically Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans), may aggravate RA.
The study used a mouse model of collagen antibody-induced arthritis to examine the effect of A. actinomycetemcomitans infection on arthritis. The researchers observed that infection with this bacterium caused increased swelling in the extremities, cellular infiltration in the joints, and increased levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β). These RA symptoms were reduced when clodronate, a chemical that kills macrophages, was taken, suggesting that these immune cells play an important role in the inflammatory process.
Lead researchers Professor Toshihiko Suzuki and Dr Tokuzu Okano emphasise that these findings provide new insights into how periodontal pathogens worsen RA.
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Source: Ferra
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