<b><i>Campylobacter rectus</i></b> in the Oral Cavity Correlates with Proteinuria in Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy Patients

Abstract

Background: Periodontitis-related pathogens, such as Campylobacter or Treponema species, have recently been shown to be associated with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Some strains of Streptococcus mutans, a major pathogen of dental caries, harbour the cnm gene that encodes a collagen-binding protein (Cnm). This has also been demonstrated to be associated with urinary protein levels in IgAN patients. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to analyse the association of IgAN with C. rectus, Treponema denticola and cnm-positive S. mutans in the oral cavity of humans. Methods: The presence of C. rectus, T. denticola and cnm-positive S. mutans strains in saliva samples of 117 IgAN patients and 56 healthy controls was evaluated by PCR, and the subjects’ clinical parameters were analysed. Results: C. rectus was significantly more prevalent in the IgAN group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The C. rectus-positive group was significantly associated with proteinuria in the IgAN group (p < 0.05). In addition, the C. rectus-positive and cnm-positive S. mutans group was shown to be more closely associated with urinary protein levels than the other groups (p < 0.0083). Conclusion: Our results suggest that harbouring C. rectus in the oral cavity could be associated with proteinuria in IgAN patients.

Definition of hypertension‐associated oral pathogens in NHANES

“…Recent findings have described an association between C. rectus abundance in the mouth and proteinuria among patients with IgA nephropathy . Although a reverse causality cannot be excluded, and results cannot be generalized to other proteinuric conditions, it is possible that C. rectus determines changes in the permselectivity properties of the glomerulus .…”

“…Recent findings have described an association between C. rectus abundance in the mouth and proteinuria among patients with IgA nephropathy. 29 Although a reverse causality cannot be excluded, and results cannot be generalized to other proteinuric conditions, it is possible that C. rectus determines changes in the permselectivity properties of the glomerulus. 30 When protein waste with urines is significant, increased sodium retention occurs by either hyperactivated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) or impaired sodium handling and excretion, 31,32 with consequent development of hypertension.…”

Intravenous administration of Streptococcus mutans induces IgA nephropathy-like lesions

“…protein (Cnm) on their cell surface exhibit a binding ability for the extracellular matrix; thus, Cnm may be a virulence factor in several diseases such as infective endocarditis [12], aggravated cerebral haemorrhaging [13][14][15], non-alcoholic steatohepatitis [16], and inflammatory bowel disease [11]. Furthermore, the results of our recent studies suggest that Cnm-positive S. mutans strains are associated with IgAN [17][18][19].…”

Association between periodontal disease due to Campylobacter rectus and cerebral microbleeds in acute stroke patients

“…rectus with cnm -positive S . mutans in saliva was associated with high urinary protein levels in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) [ 32 ]. Microalbumin reflects endothelial dysfunction, and endothelial dysfunction is thought to play a role in the mechanisms leading to CSVD-related brain changes [ 33 ].…”

“…Although some case reports have shown that there is an association between C. rectus and cavernous sinus thrombosis [30,31], no cohort study has investigated the association between C. rectus and neurological disease. However, Misaki et al have reported that the coexistence of C. rectus with cnm-positive S. mutans in saliva was associated with high urinary protein levels in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) [32]. Microalbumin reflects endothelial dysfunction, and endothelial dysfunction is thought to play a role in the mechanisms leading to CSVD-related brain changes [33].…”