Obesity-Related Gut Microbiota Aggravates Alveolar Bone Destruction in Experimental Periodontitis through Elevation of Uric Acid
Keisuke Sato, Kyoko Yamazaki, Kyoko Yamazaki, Tamotsu Kato, Yumiko Nakanishi, Takahiro Tsuzuno, Mai Yokoji‐Takeuchi, Miki Yamada‐Hara, Nobuaki Miura, Shujiro Okuda, Hiroshi Ohno, Kazuhisa Yamazaki, Kazuhisa Yamazaki
Abstract
Obesity is an epidemic health issue with a rapid increase worldwide. It increases the risk of various diseases, including periodontal disease, an oral chronic infectious disease. Although obesity increases susceptibility to bacterial infection, the precise biological mechanisms that link obesity and susceptibility to periodontal disease remain elusive. Using fecal microbial transplantation, experimental periodontitis, and metabolomics, our study demonstrates uric acid as a causative substance for greater aggravation of alveolar bone destruction in obesity-related periodontal disease. Gut microbiota from obese mice upregulated the purine degradation pathway, and the resulting elevation of serum uric acid promoted alveolar bone destruction. The effect of uric acid was confirmed by administration of allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase. Overall, our study provides new insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of obesity-associated periodontal disease and the development of new therapeutic options for the disease.