Oral bacteria migrating to the brain cause brain cell dysfunction
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A growing body of evidence shows that oral bacteria play an important role in systemic diseases such as colorectal cancer and heart disease.[사진= 게티이미지뱅크]Most people don’t think that oral disease is related to serious health problems. However, there is growing evidence showing that oral bacteria play an important role in systemic diseases such as colorectal cancer and heart disease. Added to this is a study showing a link between periodontal disease and the formation of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Oral bacteria migrating to the brain cause brain cell dysfunction, promoting neuroinflammation.
The Forsyth Institute of the United States, which specializes in oral disease research, collaborates with Boston University to show that gum disease can lead to changes in microscopic cells that protect the brain from amyloid plaques. Amyloid plaques are one of the proteins involved in cell death and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients. The study provides important insights into how oral bacteria migrate to the brain and the role of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease.
“We know from previous research that inflammation associated with gum disease activates an inflammatory response in the brain,” said senior author Dr. Alfdogan Cantach of the Forsyth Institute. “New research shows that oral bacteria can cause changes in brain cells. We discussed whether there was,” he said.
The microscopic nerve cells studied this time are a type of white blood cell that plays a role in digesting amyloid plaques. The research team found that when exposed to oral bacteria, microglial cells were overstimulated, leading to overeating. “These cells basically became obese and could no longer prevent plaque formation,” explained Dr. Cantachi.
The new findings have important implications for showing the impact of gum disease on systemic health. “Gum disease is an open passageway that allows bacteria from the mouth to enter the bloodstream and circulate to other parts of the body,” explains Dr. Cantachi. These bacteria can cross the blood and brain barrier and stimulate microscopic neurons in the brain.
To induce gum disease in laboratory mice, the research team used mouse oral bacteria to track the progression of periodontal disease and confirm that the bacteria migrated to the brain. They then isolated microscopic neurons from the brain and exposed them to oral bacteria. This stimulates microglia and promotes neuroinflammation, changing the way microglia deal with amyloid plaques.
“Recognizing how oral bacteria cause neuroinflammation will help us develop even more targeted strategies,” said Dr. Cantachi. “This suggests that managing inflammation may be important.” “The mouth is part of the body, and systemic diseases such as Alzheimer’s cannot be practically prevented unless oral inflammation and infections are managed,” he added.
The study was published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. The original title is ‘Microglial cell response to experimental periodontal disease’.
2023-07-12 06:01:14
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