Infection of <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i> Increases Phosphate-Induced Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Hyun-Joo Park,
Yeon Kim,
Mi-Kyoung Kim,
Hae-Ryoun Park,
Hyung-Joon Kim,
Soo-Kyung Bae,
Moon-Kyoung Bae
Affiliations
Hyun-Joo Park
Department of Oral Physiology, BK21 PLUS Project, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50610, Korea
Yeon Kim
Department of Oral Physiology, BK21 PLUS Project, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50610, Korea
Mi-Kyoung Kim
Department of Oral Physiology, BK21 PLUS Project, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50610, Korea
Hae-Ryoun Park
Periodontal Disease Signaling Network Research Center (MRC), School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50610, Korea
Hyung-Joon Kim
Department of Oral Physiology, BK21 PLUS Project, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50610, Korea
Soo-Kyung Bae
Periodontal Disease Signaling Network Research Center (MRC), School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50610, Korea
Moon-Kyoung Bae
Department of Oral Physiology, BK21 PLUS Project, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50610, Korea
Accumulating evidence suggests a link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular diseases. Vascular calcification is the pathological precipitation of phosphate and calcium in the vasculature and is closely associated with increased cardiovascular risk and mortality. In this study, we have demonstrated that the infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), one of the major periodontal pathogens, increases inorganic phosphate-induced vascular calcification through the phenotype transition, apoptosis, and matrix vesicle release of vascular smooth muscle cells. Moreover, P. gingivalis infection accelerated the phosphate-induced calcium deposition in cultured rat aorta ex vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that P. gingivalis contributes to the periodontal infection-related vascular diseases associated with vascular calcification.
