Link Found Between Oral Bacteria Causing Periodontal Disease and Inhibited Immune Activity in Human Colorectal Tumors

Quick Summary

Bacteria that cause periodontal disease may be linked with inhibited immune activity in human colorectal tumors. Periodontal disease progresses through five distinct stages based on pocket depth and bone loss. Maintaining good oral health and treating gum disease may help reduce potential systemic health risks.

Key Takeaways

• You should have your gum pocket depths measured regularly to determine if you have periodontal disease and at what stage.
• Ask your dentist or periodontist how treating your gum disease may affect your overall systemic health risks.
• If you have a family history of colorectal issues, inform your periodontist so they can help you understand the potential connection with oral bacteria.
• You can reduce your risk by maintaining consistent oral hygiene and seeking treatment if you notice bleeding gums or deepening pockets.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is an oral pathogen linked to periodontal disease and also found in human colorectal tumors. While certain forms of bacteria have shown some success in helping to fight tumor growth in the past, new research published in the February 2015 issue of the journal Immunity suggests that the Fusobacterium nucleatum bacteria may have the opposite effect, essentially protecting tumors from the body’s immune cells. Los Angeles periodontists Dr. Alexandre-Amir Aalam and Dr. Alina Krivitsky discuss these findings and their meaning for those possibly affected.

The findings of this research are surprising because the role of bacteria in helping to fight tumor growth has been found to be beneficial in the past. The presence of Fusobacterium nucleatum bacteria in colon tumors has been documented, and this research is important to help us understand the role that bacteria can play in both the treatment, and progression of cancer cells in the colon, as well as the rest of the body.

Dr. Krivitsky and Dr. Aalam, board-certified periodontists at the Center For Advanced Periodontal Treatment and Implant Therapy in Brentwood, CA, treat patients for periodontal disease, which has been found to have links to other serious health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes as well.

The human immune cells known as natural killer cells help to fight off disease, including tumors. While cancer cells have evolved to avoid the immune response, bacterial extracts have been used successfully to treat cancer in the past. The study found a bacterial protein known as Fap2 binds to an immune cell receptor known as TIGIT, which allows the tumor to evade destruction by the natural killer cells.

The authors of the study at Gilad Bachrach of the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine believe that blocking this interaction could potentially hold the key to developing more effective treatment options in the future.

“The results of this study have the potential to be groundbreaking if they can lead to new cancer treatment methods. On a more practical level, we always try to stress how proper oral hygiene is critical to preventing gum disease and more serious health problems down the road,” said Dr. Aalam.

If you or someone you know is interested in scheduling an appointment at the CENTER for Advanced Periodontal & Implant Therapy, we encourage you to contact 310-826-8242 today.

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