Periodontal treatment causes a longitudinal increase in nitrite‐producing bacteria

• Published in: Molecular oral microbiology Vol. 39; no. 6; pp. 491 - 506
• Main Authors: Simpson, Annabel, Johnston, William, Carda‐Diéguez, Miguel, Mira, Alex, Easton, Chris, Henriquez, Fiona L., Culshaw, Shauna, Rosier, Bob T., Burleigh, Mia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2024
• Subjects: 16s rRNA sequencing; Adult; Associated species; Bacteria; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteria - metabolism; Blood pressure; Chemiluminescence; Dental Plaque - microbiology; Female; Gum disease; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Middle Aged; nitrate; Nitrates; Nitrates - analysis; Nitrates - metabolism; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; nitrite; Nitrites - analysis; Nitrites - metabolism; Nitrogen dioxide; oral nitrate reduction; Periodontitis; Periodontitis - microbiology; Periodontitis - therapy; Relative abundance; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; rRNA 16S; Saliva; Saliva - microbiology; 16s rRNA sequencing; nitrite; nitrate; oral nitrate reduction; periodontitis
• ISSN: 2041-1006; 2041-1014; 2041-1014
• DOI: 10.1111/omi.12479

Background The oral microbiome‐dependent nitrate (NO3−)–nitrite (NO2−)–nitric oxide (NO) pathway may help regulate blood pressure. NO2−‐producing bacteria in subgingival plaque are reduced in relative abundance in patients with untreated periodontitis compared with periodontally healthy patients. In periodontitis patients, the NO2−‐producing bacteria increase several months after periodontal treatment. The early effects of periodontal treatment on NO2−‐producing bacteria and the NO3−–NO2−–NO pathway remain unknown. The aim of this study was to determine how periodontal treatment affects the oral NO2−‐producing microbiome and salivary NO3− and NO2− levels over time. Methods The subgingival microbiota of 38 periodontitis patients was analysed before (baseline [BL]) and 1, 7 and 90 days after periodontal treatment. Changes in NO2−‐producing bacteria and periodontitis‐associated bacteria were determined by 16s rRNA Illumina sequencing. Saliva samples were collected at all‐time points to determine NO3− and NO2− levels using gas‐phase chemiluminescence. Results A significant increase was observed in the relative abundance of NO2−‐producing species between BL and all subsequent timepoints (all p < 0.001). Periodontitis‐associated species decreased at all timepoints, relative to BL (all p < 0.02). NO2−‐producing species negatively correlated with periodontitis‐associated species at all timepoints, with this relationship strongest 90 days post‐treatment (ρ = −0.792, p < 0.001). Despite these findings, no significant changes were found in salivary NO3− and NO2− over time (all p > 0.05). Conclusions Periodontal treatment induced an immediate increase in the relative abundance of health‐associated NO2−‐producing bacteria. This increase persisted throughout periodontal healing. Future studies should test the effect of periodontal treatment combined with NO3− intake on periodontal and cardiovascular health.