Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Possible translocation of periodontal pathogens into the lymph nodes draining the oral cavity

  • Published:
Journal of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Numerous publications have reported the presence of periodontopathogenic bacteria in peripheral and central vascular lesions. However, it is unclear how this bacterial translocation occurs. The objective of this study was to investigate whether periodontopathic bacteria are translocated to lymph nodes proximal to the oral cavity. Obtaining lymph node samples is not ethically feasible unless they are excised as part of the surgical management of patients with cancer. This study analyzed formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded lymph nodes, histologically negative for cancer cell invasion, that were excised from 66 patients with histories of head and neck cancer. Real-time PCR was performed to amplify the 16S ribosomal DNA fragments from Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythia, and Prevotella intermedia. The relationship between bacterial detection and cancer severity, gender, and the use of anti-cancer therapy was examined by Fisher’s exact test. P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and P. intermedia were present in 17%, 8%, and 8% of the samples of submandibular and submental lymph nodes, respectively. There were no significant relationships between bacterial detection and the cancer disease status, patient gender or use of anticancer therapy. According to these data, it appears that the translocation of periodontopathic bacteria may occur via lymphatic drainage, irrespective of the cancer disease status, gender or anticancer therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bloemenkamp, D.G., van den Bosch, M.A., Mali, W.P., Tanis, B.C., Rosendaal, F.R., Kemmeren, J.M., Algra, A., Visseren, F.L., and van der Graaf, Y. 2002. Novel risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in young women. Am. J. Med. 113, 462–467.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bodet, C., Chandad, F., and Grenier, D. 2007. Pathogenic potential of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia, the red bacterial complex associated with periodontitis. Pathol. Biol. (Paris) 55, 154–162.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y.W., Iwai, T., Umeda, M., Nagasawa, T., Huang, Y., Takeuchi, Y., and Ishikawa, I. 2007. Elevated IgG titers to periodontal pathogens related to Buerger disease. Int. J. Cardiol. 122, 79–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y.W., Nagasawa, T., Wara-Aswapati, N., Ushida, Y., Wang, D., Takeuchi, Y., Kobayashi, H., Umeda, M., Inoue, Y., Iwai, T., and et al. 2009. Association between periodontitis and anti-cardiolipin antibodies in Buerger disease. J. Clin. Periodontol. 36, 830–835.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y.W., Umeda, M., Nagasawa, T., Takeuchi, Y., Huang, Y., Inoue, Y., Iwai, T., Izumi, Y., and Ishikawa, I. 2008. Periodontitis may increase the risk of peripheral arterial disease. Eur. J. Vasc. Endovasc. Surg. 35, 153–158.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dorn, J.M., Genco, R.J., Grossi, S.G., Falkner, K.L., Hovey, K.M., Iacoviello, L., and Trevisan, M. 2010. Periodontal disease and recurrent cardiovascular events in survivors of myocardial infarction (MI): the Western New York Acute MI Study. J. Periodontol. 81, 502–511.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elkaim, R., Dahan, M., Kocgozlu, L., Werner, S., Kanter, D., Kretz, J.G., and Tenenbaum, H. 2008. Prevalence of periodontal pathogens in subgingival lesions, atherosclerotic plaques and healthy blood vessels: a preliminary study. J. Periodontal. Res. 43, 224–231.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedewald, V.E., Kornman, K.S., Beck, J.D., Genco, R., Goldfine, A., Libby, P., Offenbacher, S., Ridker, P.M., Van Dyke, T.E., and Roberts, W.C. 2009. The American Journal of Cardiology and Journal of Periodontology Editors’ Consensus: periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Am. J. Cardiol. 104, 59–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaetti-Jardim, E.Jr., Marcelino, S.L., Feitosa, A.C., Romito, G.A., and Avila-Campos, M.J. 2009. Quantitative detection of periodontopathic bacteria in atherosclerotic plaques from coronary arteries. J. Med. Microbiol. 58, 1568–1575.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, R.J. 1989. Bacterial adhesion to oral tissues: a model for infectious diseases. J. Dent. Res. 68, 750–760.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haraszthy, V.I., Zambon, J.J., Trevisan, M., Zeid, M., and Genco, R. 2000. Identification of periodontal pathogens in atheromatous plaques. J. Periodontol. 71, 1554–1560.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey, L.L., Fu, R., Buckley, D.I., Freeman, M., and Helfand, M. 2008. Periodontal disease and coronary heart disease incidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Gen. Intern. Med. 23, 2079–2086.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ito, T., Kobayashi, D., Uchida, K., Takemura, T., Nagaoka, S., Kobayashi, I., Yokoyama, T., Ishige, I., Ishige, Y., Ishida, N., and et al. 2008. Helicobacter pylori invades the gastric mucosa and translocates to the gastric lymph nodes. Lab. Invest. 88, 664–681.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karjalainen, K.M., Knuuttila, M.L., and von Dickhoff, K.J. 1994. Association of the severity of periodontal disease with organ complications in type 1 diabetic patients. J. Periodontol. 65, 1067–1072.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kinane, D.F., Riggio, M.P., Walker, K.F., MacKenzie, D., and Shearer, B. 2005. Bacteraemia following periodontal procedures. J. Clin. Periodontol. 32, 708–713.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kornman, K.S., Page, R.C., and Tonetti, M.S. 1997. The host response to the microbial challenge in periodontitis: assembling the players. Periodontol 2000 14, 33–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, L., Sanz, M., Herrera, D., Morillo, J.M., Martin, C., and Silva, A. 2004. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction versus culture: a comparison between two methods for the detection and quantification of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythensis in subgingival plaque samples. J. Clin. Periodontol. 31, 1061–1069.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mustapha, I.Z., Debrey, S., Oladubu, M., and Ugarte, R. 2007. Markers of systemic bacterial exposure in periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Periodontol. 78, 2289–2302.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakajima, T., Honda, T., Domon, H., Okui, T., Kajita, K., Ito, H., Takahashi, N., Maekawa, T., Tabeta, K., and Yamazaki, K. 2010. Periodontitis-associated up-regulation of systemic inflammatory mediator level may increase the risk of coronary heart disease. J. Periodontal. Res. 45, 116–122.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paraskevas, S., Huizinga, J.D., and Loos, B.G. 2008. A systematic review and meta-analyses on C-reactive protein in relation to periodontitis. J. Clin. Periodontol. 35, 277–290.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pihlstrom, B.L., Michalowicz, B.S., and Johnson, N.W. 2005. Periodontal diseases. Lancet 366, 1809–1820.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pussinen, P.J., Alfthan, G., Jousilahti, P., Paju, S., and Tuomilehto, J. 2007. Systemic exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis predicts incident stroke. Atherosclerosis 193, 222–228.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Puthengady Thomas, B., Sun, C.X., Bajenova, E., Ellen, R.P., and Glogauer, M. 2006. Modulation of human neutrophil functions in vitro by Treponema denticola major outer sheath protein. Infect. Immun. 74, 1954–1957.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rabie, G., Lally, E.T., and Shenker, B.J. 1988. Immunosuppressive properties of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin. Infect. Immun. 56, 122–127.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanz, M., Lau, L., Herrera, D., Morillo, J.M., and Silva, A. 2004. Methods of detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythensis in periodontal microbiology, with special emphasis on advanced molecular techniques: a review. J. Clin. Periodontol. 31, 1034–1047.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Socransky, S.S. and Haffajee, A.D. 2005. Periodontal microbial ecology. Periodontol 2000 38, 135–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tonetti, M.S., D’Aiuto, F., Nibali, L., Donald, A., Storry, C., Parkar, M., Suvan, J., Hingorani, A.D., Vallance, P., and Deanfield, J. 2007. Treatment of periodontitis and endothelial function. New Engl. J. Med. 356, 911–920.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, T., Trevisan, M., Genco, R.J., Dorn, J.M., Falkner, K.L., and Sempos, C.T. 2000. Periodontal disease and risk of cerebrovascular disease: the first national health and nutrition examination survey and its follow-up study. Arch. Intern. Med. 160, 2749–2755.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan

    G. Amodini Rajakaruna, Ebe Noriko & Yuichi Izumi

  2. Department of Human Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan

    Keisuke Uchida, Asuka Furukawa, Bae Yuan, Yoshimi Suzuki & Yoshinobu Eishi

  3. Global Center of Excellence for Tooth and Bone Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan

    G. Amodini Rajakaruna & Yuichi Izumi

  4. Department of Periodontology, Osaka Dental University, 1-5-17, Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0008, Japan

    Makoto Umeda

Authors
  1. G. Amodini Rajakaruna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Makoto Umeda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Keisuke Uchida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Asuka Furukawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bae Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yoshimi Suzuki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ebe Noriko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Yuichi Izumi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Yoshinobu Eishi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuichi Izumi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Amodini Rajakaruna, G., Umeda, M., Uchida, K. et al. Possible translocation of periodontal pathogens into the lymph nodes draining the oral cavity. J Microbiol. 50, 827–836 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-012-2030-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-012-2030-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation