The effect of systemic anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment on Porphyromonas gingivalis infection in type 2 diabetic mice

Abstract 

Objective

Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease are two common chronic diseases that have long been thought to be biologically linked. Overexpression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is thought to contribute to this bidirectional inter-relationship. This study examined the effect of anti-TNF-α antibody treatment on Porphyromonas gingivalis infection in diabetic mice.

Methods

In C57BL/6 (normal) and KKAy (diabetic) mice, the area adjacent to the periosteum at a point on the skull midway between the ears was inoculated with P. gingivalis. At 24h after the inoculation, the mice in the test group were treated with rat anti-murine TNF-α intravenously, while the control group received non-immunized rat IgG. TNF-α, IL-6, and fasting blood glucose levels in the mice were measured on day 3.

Results

Anti-TNF-α antibody treatment improved the host response to P. gingivalis and was associated with reduced serum TNF-α, IL-6, and fasting blood glucose levels in the KKAy mice. Anti-TNF-α antibody treatment also decreased the lesion size at the P. gingivalis inoculation.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that TNF-α plays a role in the two-way relationship between P. gingivalis infection and diabetes mellitus. Anti-TNF-α antibody treatment may improve the host response to P. gingivalis infection and glycemic control in diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Diabetes mellitus, Anti-TNF-α antibody, TNF-α, IL-6