Periodontal Pathogens May Incite Tumor Growth
Periodontal Disease Bacteria May Incite Tumor Growth Researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland have found that two bacteria implicated in periodontal diseases may incite the growth of lesions tumors caused by Kaposi sarcoma, a rare cancer that is
Periodontal Pathogens May Incite Tumor Growth
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland have found that two bacteria implicated in periodontal diseases may incite the growth of lesions/tumors caused by Kaposi sarcoma, a rare cancer that is most often seen among people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The study demonstrates how byproducts in the form of small-chain fatty acids from Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum encourage the development of these deadly lesions and tumors in the oral cavity. The findings, “Short Chain Fatty Acids from Periodontal Pathogens Suppress HDACs, EZH2, and SUV39H1 to Promote Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Replication,” were published online in February in the Journal of Virology.
Seeking to uncover why most people with these two common bacteria never develop Kaposi sarcoma, the team recruited 21 subjects for evaluation. Participants were given standard periodontal-disease tests and saliva samples were collected. The researchers then examined P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum byproducts of lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae, proteinases, as well as five short-chain fatty acids (butyric acid, isobutryic acid, isovaleric acid, propionic acid, and acetic acid). From this, they pinpointed fatty acids as the culprit in replication of the Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV).
“These new findings provide one of the first looks at how these periodontal bacteria create a unique microenvironment in the oral cavity that contributes to the replication of KSHV and development of Kaposi sarcoma,” says Fengchum Ye, PhD, the study’s lead investigator. “The most important thing to come out of this study is that we believe periodontal disease is a risk factor in patients with HIV.”
Kaposi sarcoma first appears as lesions in the oral cavity. Untreated, these lesions can develop into malignant tumors, but early detection and treatment can improve survival rates. This cancer often attacks those with compromised immune systems, including people with HIV, transplant recipients, patients receiving chemotherapy, and older adults. The team’s findings may lead to salivary tests for early detection and treatment.
Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter
March 2014
