Dysbiosis-mediated inflammation: a pathophysiological link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontitis
Lopez-Oliva, Isabel Chapple, Iain L Paropkari, Akshay Saraswat, Shweta Sharma, Praveen Serban, Stefan Filer, Andrew Dietrich, Thomas
Lopez-Oliva, Isabel
Chapple, Iain L
Paropkari, Akshay
Saraswat, Shweta
Sharma, Praveen
Serban, Stefan
Filer, Andrew
Dietrich, Thomas
Abstract
Aim: To explore mechanistic links between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis (PD) through the lens of subgingival microbial dysbiosis-mediated inflammation. Methods: Subgingival plaque from 100 volunteers with RA and PD (RAPD), 22 with RA (RAnoPD), 18 with PD (PDnoRA) and 19 healthy controls (noRAnoPD) was analysed using 16S-amplicon sequencing, semi-quantitative bead-based flow cytometry to measure crevicular fluid cytokines and ELISA to quantify antibodies to oral pathogens and systemic inflammatory markers in serum. The RAPD group had been randomised to receive intensive non-surgical periodontal therapy (PMPR) or oral hygiene alone and reviewed at 3 and 6 months in our previously reported study. Results: Subgingival microbial dysbiosis, as evidenced by higher species richness, alpha-diversity and higher levels of known and putative periodontal pathobionts, was evident at baseline in RAnoPD, RAPD and PDnoRA. Higher serum antibodies to oral pathogens were recorded in RAPD. PMPR restored host-microbial homeostasis in RAPD within 3 months. Significant decreases in serum antibodies to microbial antigens and clinical measures of RA activity were seen after 3 and 6 months in the PMPR group but not controls. Conclusions: We demonstrate a mutualistic influence of RA and PD, beginning with RA-induced dysbiosis of the periodontal microbiome, progressing to periodontal inflammation and culminating in PD-driven exacerbation of systemic inflammation.
MIDER Authors
Affiliations
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust; Queen Mary University of London; University of Birmingham; NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre in Inflammation; et al.
Citations
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Date
2025-12-02
Type
Article
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Citation
Lopez-Oliva I, Chapple IL, Paropkari A, Saraswat S, Sharma P, Serban S, de Pablo P, Raza K, Filer A, Dietrich T, Grant M, Kumar PS. Dysbiosis-Mediated Inflammation: A Pathophysiological Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol. 2026 Mar;53(3):466-477. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.70063. Epub 2025 Dec 2