Medicina (Jul 2024)

Relationship of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Oral and Intestinal Microbiota: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

  • Takaaki Matsui,
  • Toshiya Morozumi,
  • Yuko Yamamoto,
  • Takashi Kobayashi,
  • Ryo Takuma,
  • Masato Yoneda,
  • Asako Nogami,
  • Takaomi Kessoku,
  • Muneaki Tamura,
  • Yoshiaki Nomura,
  • Toru Takahashi,
  • Yohei Kamata,
  • Shuntaro Sugihara,
  • Kyoko Arai,
  • Masato Minabe,
  • Norio Aoyama,
  • Kenji Mitsudo,
  • Atsushi Nakajima,
  • Motohiro Komaki

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60071150
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 60, no. 7
p. 1150

Abstract

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Background and Objectives: The incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing worldwide, alongside the epidemic of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Based on preliminary reports regarding the potential association of HCC and periodontitis, this study aimed to analyze the involvement of periodontal bacteria as well as the oral and intestinal bacterial flora in MASH-related HCC (MASH-HCC). Materials and Methods: Forty-one patients with MASH and nineteen with MASH-HCC participated in the study, completing survey questionnaires, undergoing periodontal examinations, and providing samples of saliva, mouth-rinsed water, feces, and peripheral blood. The oral and fecal microbiome profiles were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Bayesian network analysis was used to analyze the causation between various factors, including MASH-HCC, examinations, and bacteria. Results: The genus Fusobacterium had a significantly higher occupancy rate (p = 0.002) in the intestinal microflora of the MASH-HCC group compared to the MASH group. However, Butyricicoccus (p = 0.022) and Roseburia (p Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Prevotella intermedia in the saliva, as well as the genera Lactobacillus, Roseburia, Fusobacterium, Prevotella, Clostridium, Ruminococcus, Trabulsiella, and SMB53 in the intestine. Furthermore, P. gingivalis in the oral cavity directly affected the genera Lactobacillus and Streptococcus in the intestine. Conclusions: MASH-HCC directly affects periodontal pathogenic and intestinal bacteria, and P. gingivalis may affect the intestinal bacteria associated with gastrointestinal cancer.

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