The bacteria responsible for periodontal disease, commonly reffered to as “gum disease” may cause Rheumatoid artheritis according to a research by University of Louisville School of Dentistry Oral Health and Systemic Diseases group researcher Jan Potempa, PhD, DSc. and an international team of researchers from European Union. The scientists have uncovered how the bacterium responsible for periodontal disease Porphyromonas Gingivalis causes faster progression to Ruheumatoid artheritis by increasing bone and cartilege destruction.
P.Gingivalis produces a unique enzyme Peptidylarginine deiminanse (PAD) a type of artheritis enhances Collagen -induced arthiritis, a form of arthiritis similar to RA produced in the lab. PAD alters the residues of certain proteins in to citrulline, and the body recognizes citullinated proteins as intruders, leading to an immune attack. In RA patients the result is a chronic inflammation responsible for the bone and cartilege destruction within joints.
“However the ground breaking conclusion has to be followed up by further research” says Potempa hopeful of finding better treatments and preventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis.