Linkage of Periodontitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Current Evidence and Potential Biological Interactions

1The possible association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontal disease (PD) has been investigated because of the numerous similarities in pathological and immunological characteristics, including: (1) Increased infiltration of inflammatory and immune cells including neutrophils, monocytes, and T and B lymphocytes; (2) increased release of pro-inflammatory mediators such as the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and matrix-degrading enzymes (MMPs, Cathepsin); (3) increased activation of the receptor activator of the factor nuclear kappa B (NF-κB) ligand (RANK-L) pathway induced by soluble mediators released by immune cells, with subsequent osteoclast differentiation and maturation. In addition, decreased levels of anti-inflammatory mediators, such as the IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) are also reported in both RA and PD. PD and RA also lead to systemic inflammation, indicated by increased levels of the C-reactive protein (CRP) in the plasma. Environmental factors (smoking) and genetic background (gene polymorphisms) are also considered risk factors for both conditions. A summary of the overlapping features of RA and PD is presented in Figure 1.

2In spite of differences in the etiologies of RA (autoimmune) and PD (dysbiotic microbial biofilm), there are similar biological processes involved, such as citrullination and autoantibody response and the pivotal role of bacterial dysbiosis, which may represent direct links between these two conditions. Citrullination of peptides is mediated by peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) and is considered a key event in RA. Recently, it was reported that the periodontal pathogen P. gingivalis express PAD, may represent a direct biological intersection between PD and RA. Accordingly, recent studies have strengthened the hypothesis that PD is a risk factor for the RA development. The authors showed that individuals at high risk to develop RA were presented with an increased prevalence of PD and periodontopathogenic bacteria (P. gingivalis) suggesting that PD is associated with disease initiation and could be targets for preventive interventions in RA.

3In support to a biological link between PD and RA, there is a much higher prevalence of RA in PD patients (3.95%, compared to 1% in the general population). Interestingly, in the greater severity of RA (swollen joints), an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and increased CRP are correlated with more severe periodontal bone resorption. Previous case-control studies showed that long-term smoking increases the risk for RA development. Furthermore, the epidemiological association between smoking and RA became the center of innumerous researches when smoking was recognized as a trigger to the citrullination of peptides via stimulation of the PAD enzyme. In line of this, cigarette smoking has been associated with an increased risk of seropositive disease (ACPA and RF). Accordingly, a more aggressive form of PD, characterized by an increased periodontal attachment apparatus loss and bone resorption, is seen in smokers compared to non-smokers control patients. However, it is important to bear in mind that several studies in the literature mention statistical or selection adjustment/control for smoking, and most of them (if not all) consider smoking as a categorical variable (current, former or never-smoker) and do not account for the frequency, type or duration of smoking. This is also true for the socioeconomic status of patients suffering from PD and/or RA. In this context, further randomized clinical trials are warranted to investigate the possible influence of cigarette consumption based on the frequency, type and duration of smoking in patients striking from both conditions.

4This review discusses the information on mechanisms underlying the possible reciprocal influences between RA and PD, particularly those related to the similarities in the immune-pathological aspects, and also the current available therapeutic strategies targeting RA and PD.

5Periodontitis, the most common cause of tooth loss in humans, is one of the world’s most prevalent chronic inflammatory disease, affecting 46% of the United States population, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), with 10–15% of the PD patients having a more aggressive form of the disease. The ultimate outcome of PD is the loss/extraction of teeth that are no longer capable of supporting the functional demands, causing a significant impact on the oral health-related quality of life. The economic burden of dental diseases is exceptionally elevated, with treatment expenses anticipated at 416 billion US dollars per year worldwide. More than 70% of this spending goes toward the treatment of PD. In the United Kingdom, 3 to 4 million individuals (approximately 5% of the UK population) currently suffer from severe PD at a cost of 2 billion pounds/year to the National Health Service (NHS). In the past three decades, a number of studies has reported associations between periodontitis and various systemic inflammatory conditions, including arthritis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis.

6PD is a chronic inflammatory condition of the supporting tissues (gingiva, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone) around the teeth, caused by a dysbiotic microbial biofilm on the tooth surfaces. Most of the tissue destruction results from the host immune triggered and sustained by the dysbiotic process. The dysbiosis causing the shift from the periodontal health to PD is analogous to that in the intestinal mucosal surfaces, as a stable microbial community comprised mostly by Gram-positive aerobes is changed to a pathogenic bacterial community characterized microaerophilic and anaerobic Gram-negative microorganisms. Three bacterial species are strongly correlated with PD: P. gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia, referred to as the “red complex”.

7The molecular events that occur during PD pathogenesis are briefly described in Figure 2. Importantly, as a chronic inflammatory condition, both microbial- and host-derived molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs) accumulate in the microenvironment alongside with the innate and adaptive immune cells producing numerous inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-𝛼, IL-1𝛽, IL-6, IL-17, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), growth factors, and degrading enzymes (collagenase, elastase, gelatinase), which are the main culprits of the destruction of the tooth-supporting structures, in a process somewhat analog to autoimmune conditions.

8Variations in the host response to the microbial antigens derived from genetic influences and from acquired risk factors (e.g., systemic conditions affecting the immune response, medications, tobacco use) account for the significant variation in the susceptibility and severity of PD. Like RA, PD is considered to be of a multifactorial condition, and systemic inflammatory disorders (such as RA) can lead to disturbing the equilibrium between the host and oral microbiota, assisting the onset of PD and/or enhancing the destruction of periodontal tissues.

9Clinical characteristics of PD include friable gums, spontaneous bleeding, gingival recession, deepening pockets surrounding the tooth (indicating alveolar bone resorption), and eventual tooth loosening. The diagnosis of PD is mainly based on clinical and intra-oral radiographic examination, involving bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and alveolar bone level. The main therapy for the periodontitis treatment is based on the control of the oral biofilm by improving oral hygiene and removing plaque and dental biofilm through scaling and root planning. Of importance, there are variations in the periodontitis case definition and in the criteria for the severity of involvement that might compromise comparisons of the results reported by different studies. Moreover, few studies have reported the inflammatory status (bleeding on probing) as a criterium for the evaluation of the periodontal disease status.

10Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disease, is depicted by synovial inflammation and hyperplasia leading to irreversible damage of the cartilage and bone in the joints, loss of function, chronic pain and progressive disability (stiffness, swelling and deformation of the joints). RA affects up to 1% of the population worldwide, is three times more prevalent in women, and is associated with significant co-morbidities (cardiovascular illness, skeletal disorders such as: Periarticular bone loss, juxta-articular bone erosion, joint ankyloses and fractures), socioeconomic burden, and mortality. The exact etiology of RA is still poorly understood although it is hypothesized that the development of RA is dependent on the complex associations between environmental factors (e.g., long-term smoking), genetic background, hormonal, and infectious risk factors resulting in the formation of autoantibodies and the onset of RA.

11The diagnosis of RA is based on physical examination (according to the European League Against Rheumatism—EULAR criteria), clinical history, and laboratory tests (presence of ACPAs and/or RF antibodies, abnormal acute phase reactants such as CRP and ESR), and also by imaging methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography methods. The Disease Activity Score including the 28-joint count (DAS28) is also used in the clinical assessment of the disease activity calculated with a formula based on the number of swollen and tender joints, the patient’s global assessment based on a visual analog scale (VAS, 0–100) and measurements of CRP and ESR. The management of RA is primarily based on medications, such as: Analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and biologic and non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), physical therapy, and surgery aiming at reducing symptoms, slowing joint damage progression and achieving remission.

12The pathological aspects of RA include hyperplasia of the synovial membrane lining due to an influx of inflammatory cells (T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells) into the synovium and joint cavity, resulting in the exacerbated production of cytokines and proteases. The overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, the granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and RANKL is central to the pathogenesis of RA. These cytokines drive joint destruction by stimulating synovial fibroblasts and chondrocytes to secrete collagen-degrading enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs) and by activating osteoclast differentiation leading to the cartilage and bone destruction. The major cellular and molecular events in the pathogenesis of RA are represented in Figure 3.

13In the last few years, there has been an increased focus on the role of citrullination and production of autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of RA. The level of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) is a highly specific marker of the disease (95–98% specificity) and has been shown to be present in the serum of 70% of RA patients up to a decade prior to the initial effective diagnosis. ACPA can be detected by a diagnostic test based on the reactivity against the synthetic cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP). The ACPA-positive RA is associated with a more severe disease compared to the ACPA-negative disease patients. The presence of the rheumatoid factor (RF), a polyclonal antibody that reacts to the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G (IgG), is another diagnostic criterion for RA. In contrast to the ACPA, RF has only limited specificity for early detection of the disease and can be detected in several other diseases. It has been shown that RF by itself does not contribute to the RA disease progression.

14More recently, a role for the microbiome in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis has been suggested as a possible modifier agent (environmental factor) in the disease development. The connection of the gut microbiome in the arthritis pathogenesis was supported by the observation that experimental arthritis in both the IL-1 knockout and K/BxN animal models of RA was strongly attenuated under germ-free conditions. Mucosal surfaces such as the lung, intestine and periodontal tissues are sites of the immune surveillance and a breach of the immune tolerance may contribute to development of arthritis. This is sustained by the statement that autoantibodies (anti-PAD4, RF, antibodies against carbamylated proteins (anti-CarP), and ACPA,) might be distinguished years before individuals have joint symptoms. Hypothetically, autoimmune responses initiated in microbially-colonized mucosal surfaces can transition to extramucosal sites like the synovial joints contributing to the signs and symptoms characteristic of RA. Lately, it has been demonstrated that RA patients had a higher bacterial load, increased abundance of pathogenic species, and a more diverse oral microbiota associated with PD compared to the healthy controls (with RA and without PD), which resulted in worse periodontal condition (clinical attachment loss) in those patients. Moreover, changes in the oral microbiome (increased pathogenic species such as Prevotella, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Parvimonas micra) were associated with poor RA conditions (number of tender and swollen joints) in patients with RA-PD.

15In the context of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of rheumatic disease, microorganisms located in the gut and in the periodontal tissues (extra-articular) play an important role as potential initiators of immune-mediated inflammatory conditions at distant sites (Figure 4). The oral environment possesses its own particular microbiota with more than 700 different species, which is located below the gingival margin (connective tissue) with a permeable epithelium. There are some hypotheses in which the microbiota may be involved in the progression of the disease, such as: Epithelial and mucosal permeability, loss of immune tolerance to components of the microbiota, and trafficking of immune cells to the joints. In this context, periodontal pathogens can reach the blood circulation as a consequence of frequent and low intensity bacteremia induced by chewing or tooth brushing. Once microorganisms gain access to the peripheral blood, they can colonize distant sites in the body and eventually initiate the pathological processes. Of importance, the DNA of P. gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens, Tannerella forsythia and Fusobacterium nucleatum have been detected in the synovial fluid of patients with RA. Moreover, elevated titers of antibodies against T. forsythia, P. intermedia and P. gingivalis have been detected in the serum and synovial fluid of RA patients. It has been suggested that an increased amount of Gram-negative microorganisms in the intestines increased toxic metabolites that reached blood circulation and may eventually enhance joint inflammation.

16With significance to the pathogenesis of RA, there is a growing understanding of mucosal environmental exposures and dysbiosis as possible causal events during the onset of RA. One of the hypothesis raised is associated with the immunoglobulin A (IgA)-related autoimmunity (ACPA) as a potential causative link in the RA development, which is centered on the autoantibody isotype and plasmablast studies. In this regard, Barra et al. determined the prevalence of various ACPAs in first-degree relatives and found that the rate of the ACPA positivity in unaffected RA patients were very high. Moreover, in the first-degree relatives, ACPAs were not significantly associated with the SE, smoking, symptoms of RA, or PD. The ACPA profile of those patients consisted predominately of the IgA isotype and this outcome might be suggested as possible indicative of the IgA isotype in the pathogenesis of RA. Holers et al. elegantly confirmed that the lung also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of RA. They have demonstrated in subjects at high risk to RA development that the most citrulline-specific antibody response in the sputum were those to fibrinogen, vimentin, apolipoprotein E and fibronectin. Moreover, mucosal ACPA production in the lung, and possible in other tissues, is associated with the presence of local inflammation and increased levels of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation. These findings supported the pivotal function of the lung in early RA related autoimmunity. They also suggested that the most important initial event in the preclinical development of RA is the loss of the mucosal barrier function and systemic spread of an IgG ACPA response instead of the loss of tolerance to self-antigens. However, studies evaluating mucosal origins hypothesis are limited because not all of them enable the relationship of the precise mucosal events present in the early time point or points during which such exposures would have influenced the concurrent autoimmune phenotypes as well as subsequent RA development. In this context, more studies are warranted to clarify those aspects.

17For a comprehensive review on the role of mucosa-environment interactions in the pathogenesis of RA, the article made by Lucchino et al. and a review paper made by the Holers group are recommended.

18Studies on the possible mechanisms by which both diseases may be interconnected explore the major molecular pathways associated with the pathogenesis of RA and PD.

19A possible association link between RA and PD is based on the theory of the “two-hit” model, first described by Golub et al.. In this theory, the first “hit” involves the increased presence of anaerobic microorganisms and their antigens in the periodontal microenvironment. This initial hit triggers destructive events of periodontitis, such as increased production of bone-resorptive cytokines (IL-6, IL-1, TNF-α) and tissue-destructive proteinases (MMPs). The second “hit” involves a systemic disease, such as RA, that causes an increase of serological biomarkers of systemic inflammation (e.g., CRP, IL-6, IL-1β, PGE2, MMPs, and TNF-α). The increased serum levels of inflammatory mediators may further stimulate immune cells in the periodontium and enhance the production of MMPs and RANKL, aggravating destruction of non-mineralized and mineralized connective tissues in the periodontium, in a process that closely resembles cytokine-driven osteoclast activation and bone destruction during the pathogenesis of RA.

20Similarly, Wegner et al. suggested a “two-hit” model for PD influence on RA: The first hit is initiated by increased prevalence of PAD-producing P. gingivalis in the periodontal disease microenvironment, leading to increased local citrullination of peptidesband generation of APCAs. The second hit is represented by cross-reactivity of periodontal-generated APCAs to antigens present in the joint microenvironment, further aggravating the inflammation associated with RA. This amplification of the autoimmune reaction would end into the chronic and damaging inflammation that characterizes arthritis.

21Genetic variations are associated with both RA and PD. It is possible that some common genetic traits are associated with increased susceptibility to these conditions. One potential genetic influence connecting RA and PD is the shared epitope (SE)-coding HLA-DRB1 allele. According to van der Woude et al. 50% of the risk to develop RA is attributed to genetic factors, and the most relevant genetic association in RA is with the SE-coding HLA-DRB1 gene that confers more than 80% of susceptibility for joint destruction. The HLA-DRB1 alleles encoding the beta chain of class II MHC can bind citrullinated peptides, possibly increasing the immunogenicity of the arthritis auto-antigenic citrullinated peptides. It has been demonstrated that interaction between the elevated anti-RgpB IgG levels and the HLA–DRB1 SE was only detected in ACPA-positive RA patients, supporting a role for this genetic variation in the response to citrullinated antigens.

22The SE-coding DRB1 alleles have been associated with bone erosions in RA as well as alveolar bone destruction during PD progression. Recent data shows that the transgenic mice carrying a human SE-coding HLA-DRB1 allele present spontaneous alveolar bone resorption and osteopenic skeletal changes, characterized by slenderer tibiae and decreased total bone area in the marrow and cortical tibial bones. Furthermore, overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and TNF-α were also found in SE-positive mice. SE acts as a signal transduction ligand that facilitates Th17 and osteoclast differentiation, increasing the RA severity. These studies provided new insights in the association of SE with bone erosions in the inflammatory diseases supporting a genetic intersection between RA and PD.

23The HLA-DRB1 SE has also been implicated as a risk factor for the periodontal disease. Sandal et al. demonstrated a potential role of HLA-DRB1 in the generation of ACPA in response to P. gingivalis oral infection model in mice. The generation of ACPAs in transgenic mouse (I-A°/I-E° on the C57BL/6 background that expresses susceptibility allele HLA-DRB1) required the expression of the PAD enzyme for the citrullination of host-derived proteins, representing a possible causative link between PD and RA. This information supports the hypothesis of P. gingivalis as a possible source of the PAD enzyme inducing citrullination of host-derived peptides and the subsequent production of ACPAs that may cross-react with host-derived antigens in the joints and contribute/aggravate RA.

24Based on the microbial dysbiosis etiology of PD, increased interest has emerged in clarifying the potential role of specific bacterial species in the link with RA.

25The indirect involvement of P. gingivalis in the pathogenesis of RA through the expression of PAD and the process of citrullination was first described in 2004. Citrullination is the process of post-translational modification of the amino acid arginine into citrulline, which is mediated by PAD, an enzyme of immune cells such as T and B lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages, leading to the production of anti-CCP antibodies. The isoform PADI4 is the most important for autoimmunity and is not active during homeostasis. When citrullinated proteins are formed in excess they can act as autoantigens, leading to the production of auto-antibodies favoring the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases.

26To date, P. gingivalis (the most common oral microorganism implicated in PD) is the only known microorganism with the ability to express the PPAD enzyme (known as PPAD to distinguish this bacterial enzyme from the human counterpart PAD). The PAD enzyme is directly associated with the formation of ACPA and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of RA. The post-translational modification of arginine into citrulline through the PAD enzyme leads to the modification of the protein structure, and in genetically susceptible (e.g., in shared epitope-positive) individuals this might result in the generation of an immune response to citrullinated self-antigens. Citrullination associated with the host-derived PAD may be augmented by bacterial-derived PADs and enhance the production of ACPAs, which can precede the development of RA, and thus have an etiological role in its pathogenesis.

27In translational studies, a comparison of wild-type (WT) P. gingivalis with PAD-deficient P. gingivalis or P. intermedia (without PAD) supports a role for PPAD as a mechanistic link between P. gingivalis-induced periodontal infection and RA. WT P. gingivalis drastically augmented levels of autoantibodies to type II collagen and citrullinated epitopes whereas the PPAD-null mutant did not. Interestingly, administration of the protein arginine deiminase inhibitor (Pan-PAD inhibitor, Cl-amidine) diminishes the severity of the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice, indicating a causative connection between PPAD and RA.

28In addition to its ability to express PPAD, P. gingivalis induces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6 and IL-1β) by the immune cells. In this context, oral infection with P. gingivalis previous to the RA induction enhances the immune system stimulating a Th17 cell response that may accelerate arthritis development. P. gingivalis has also the capacity to invade primary human chondrocytes when cultured in vitro, affecting cellular responses, which can contribute to the tissue damage during the RA pathogenesis. All those characteristics of P. gingivalis suggest that PD, associated with increased prevalence of this microorganism, can influence the development of RA development through the citrullination process, the activation of Th17-related pathways. Taken together, this information supports a pivotal role for P. gingivalis in the causal link between PD and RA.

29A clinical study investigated whether P. gingivalis influence the titer of ACPA in patients. They have concluded that in patients with PD, oral infection might be accountable for inducing autoimmune responses that characterizes RA. It was suggested that RA-susceptible patients presenting PD may be exposed to citrullinated antigens produced by PPAD, which might lead to intra-articular inflammation. PAD citrullinated peptides result in the expression of RF-containing immune complexes, leading to a local inflammatory reaction, both in the periodontal tissues and synovium, through Fc and C5a receptors. This suggests a reciprocal influence of PD and RA, mediated by ACPAs and RF.

30The prevalence of P. gingivalis in the oral microbiota of RA patients is strongly correlated with the presence of ACPA and it has been hypothesized that increased accumulation of citrullinated proteins and the reduced immunotolerance of RA subjects to citrullinated proteins lead to an increased formation of autoantibodies. The increased formation of citrullinated proteins is associated with a more aggressive form of the disease and with earlier development of bone erosions. A previous well-designed study has shown that ACPA concentrations were elevated among RA patients with PD and were associated with the presence of antibodies against P. gingivalis. The authors also showed that increased alveolar bone resorption was correlated with higher ACPA concentrations.

31Although P. gingivalis is the PD-related microorganism most well-studied in the pathogenesis of RA, a recent study identified another periodontal pathogenic microorganism, A. actinomycetemcomitans, a Gram-negative coccobacillus, as a potential trigger for the pathogenesis of RA, providing a novel connection with PD. This study established that A. actinomycetemcomitans induced hypercitrullination in host neutrophils by dysregulated activation of citrullinating enzymes through the pore-forming toxin leukotoxin A (LtxA—a major virulence factor of A. actinomycetemcomitans), resulting in a citrullinome that parallels as observed locally in RA-affected joints. The same study also demonstrated that LtxA induced changes in the neutrophil morphology with the release of citrullinated proteins. Furthermore, exposure to leukotoxic A. actinomycetemcomitans was confirmed in RA patients with PD and was positively associated with ACPA levels. Emphasizing this relationship between the A. actinomycetemcomitans and RA development, the same group showed recently that the clinical symptoms of arthritis (morning stiffness, tenosynovitis, polyarthritis) and anti-CCP antibodies were successfully diminished when the antibiotic treatment against A. actinomycetemcomitans was prescribed for the patient, which was presented with A. actinomycetemcomitans endocarditis.

32Furthermore, a potential role of the periodontopathogenic bacteria P. intermedia in the pathogenesis of RA was further elucidated in a study made by Schwenzer et al.. This study was performed to clarify the mechanism by which PD could induce ACPAs, by examining the antibody response to a novel citrullinated peptide of cytokeratin 13 (CK-13) identified in the GCF of RA patients. The outcomes of this study have identified ACPA fine specificities associated with P. intermedia. Antibodies to cCK13-1 correlated strongly with anti-cTNC5, both of which were linked to a serologic response to P. intermedia infection pointing to the role of this bacteria in the pathogenesis of RA. However, previous pre-clinical studies did not demonstrate the role of P. intermedia in the pathogenesis of RA, as described further below.

33Oral inoculations with live P. gingivalis appeared to sensitize mice and rats to early RA development and increased the severity of joint destruction. An interesting study evaluated the primary role of P. gingivalis in the course of PD and subsequent RA in rats. The authors exposed the rats to oral inoculation with P. gingivalis and or P. intermedia for one month and then followed for eight months. PD was developed only in rats that received P. gingivalis. Interestingly, the RA development was confirmed in rats exposed only to P. gingivalis characterized by inflammatory infiltrate in the ankle joints with cortical erosions and cortical bone reduction. The authors concluded that oral priming with P. gingivalis triggered seropositive RA. In line with this study, Maresz et al. have demonstrated that mice infected with P. gingivalis W83 strain developed antibodies to citrullinated peptides in a CIA arthritis model. This means that infection with oral bacteria not only aggravates CIA but also seems to play a role in sensitizing mice to faster disease development and a more severe disease, with considerably more cartilage and bone damage in the joints. These outcomes were shown to be determined on the PPAD activity via increased inflammatory reaction and release of host PADs, leading to generation of citrullinated neo-epitopes. These findings were corroborated by another study showing that P. gingivalis aggravated the disease severity in an animal mouse model of RA and augmented the production of citrullinated antigens in the synovium.

34Our group recently demonstrated a significant aggravation of arthritis severity in mice orally inoculated with P. gingivalis and P. nigrescens by increasing bone erosions in the affected joints. These results indicate that the Th17 induction strongly depended on the TLR2 expression on antigen-presenting cells and was highly promoted by the IL-1 production, and stimulation of local Th17 cell differentiation. Moreover, this data provides evidence of the involvement of PD in the pathogenesis of the T cell-driven arthritis through induction of a Th17-type response. We recently verified that oral infection with P. gingivalis aggravates AIA in mice, with aggravated bone erosion in the joints, associated with higher frequency of Th17 cells and increased levels of TNF-α and IL-17. Increased severity of AIA in this study is dependent of the Th17/IL-17 signaling pathway since the IL-17RA-deficient mice did not show bone loss or cytokine level alterations. The involvement of P. gingivalis in the activation of the immune system towards the Th17-pathways was further supported by increasing synovitis, bone erosions, and osteoclast numbers after PD induction with oral inoculation of live P. gingivalis. For a complete overview in the role of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of PD and RA, the review paper by Bunte and Beikler is suggested.

35Sato et al. examined whether the modification of gut microbiota induced by P. gingivalis and P. intermedia, a Gram-negative microorganism also associated with PD that does not express PAD, is related with CIA. P. gingivalis, but not P. intermedia significantly aggravated CIA, with increased IL-17 levels in the serum, increased proportion of Th17 cells in lymphocytes, and a noteworthy change in the gut microbiome. Conversely, P. gingivalis did not increase the ACPA levels. These findings point to an exclusive role of P. gingivalis in the link between RA and PD by affecting the gut microbiota and inducing a shift to the Th17-type response.

36A study using an oral inoculation model of the polymicrobial mixture of P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. forsythia to induce PD has shown that the presence of these bacterial strains exacerbate the development of CIA in mice. Induction of PD in this study favored the CIA development, as shown by earlier commencement, and a more aggressive arthritic development associated with enhanced influx of inflammatory cells and pannus formation. Of importance, the identification of P. gingivalis in the joint tissues of mice with CIA challenged with periodontal pathogens suggests that a metastatic infection by PD-associated bacteria might contribute to the progression and severity of arthritis.

37Bartold et al. recognized that a combined approach using heat killed P. gingivalis to induce chronic inflammation followed by an arthritogenic hit to induce RA led to exacerbation of the immune response and increased severity of arthritis in rats. These findings were different from those described by Queiroz-Junior et al. that showed no influence of A. actinomycetemcomitans induced-PD on the progression and severity of chronic AIA in mice. On the other hand, chronic AIA clearly exacerbated A. actinomycetemcomitans induced-PD. The lack of influence of PD on arthritis progression in this study compared to the work made by Bartold et al. might be attributed to differences in the bacterial species (P. gingivalis versus A. actinomycetemcomitans), the specific strain of bacteria used, route of bacterial infection (oral inoculation versus implantation of sponge impregnated with bacteria in the back), experimental animal species (mouse versus rat) and arthritis experimental model ( methylated BSA versus mycobacterium cell wall/adjuvant).

38In line with these studies, Trombone et al. reported that the association between bacterial induced-PD and pristane-induced RA in rats is dependent on a hyper-inflammatory phenotype. Interestingly, Queiroz-Junior et al. have shown that AIA in mice provoked spontaneously inflammatory PD, without manipulation of the oral cavity. There is also evidence that pre-existing PD induced by oral inoculation with P. gingivalis exacerbated experimental arthritis using the CIA model in mice. Intriguingly, mice with only PD showed evidence of bone resorption in the radiocarpal joint, and mice with only collagen-antibody induced arthritis demonstrated alveolar bone loss. Taken together, these studies support the current hypothesis of a biological link between arthritis and bacterial induced-periodontitis.

39NHANES data indicates that the prevalence of PD, estimated by the number of missing teeth, is four times higher in RA patients. This finding is corroborated by previous epidemiological and case-control studies, which showed that patients with active RA have significantly increased prevalence of PD (determined by different criteria, including bleeding, gingivitis, and increased probing pocket depth) compared to non-RA patients. In counterpart, the prevalence of RA in PD patients is higher in comparison with matched periodontally healthy individuals. Some studies have shown that treatment of PD improves RA clinical/disease parameters (DAS28 score, CRP levels) and conversely that treatment of RA may decrease the extent of periodontal inflammation (Tables 1 and 2). This information strongly suggests that PD and RA are associated, and also that the nature of this association involves reciprocal biological influences.

40RA treatment involves various pharmacological approaches. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs—ibuprofen, aspirin and COX-2 inhibitors), glucocorticoids (GC), and synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, TNF-α inhibitors (infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept, certolizumab and golimumab), IL-1β monoclonal antibody (canakinumab), the IL-1 receptor antagonist (anakinra), the humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody (tocilizumab), and Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors (tofacitinib) are currently the most prescribed drugs for the RA treatment. These classes of drugs reduce pain, inflammation and progression of the joint and therefore ameliorate the signs and symptoms of the disease, enhancing quality of life.

41The long-term use of GC and NSAID by RA patients is associated with immune suppression, leading to oral changes such as xerostomia and candidiasis. Although there is evidence from pre-clinical, and clinical studies, that drug-induced transient suppression of the immune response may attenuate PD, prolonged immunosuppression is also associated with a worse PD status in pre-clinical and clinical studies. This is reflected in RA patients, as some studies report worse periodontal status, whereas other studies demonstrate beneficial effects of the RA treatment (DMARDs) on the PD status. Table 1 summarizes the main outcomes of clinical trials evaluating the RA treatment in patients with established PD.

42Most studies on the influence of the RA treatment on the severity of PD have focused on agents that target specific molecular factors in the inflammatory cascade, such as biological DMARDs. The TNF blockers used for the treatment of patients with RA resulted in significant reduction of biochemical markers of PD including IL-1β and IL-8 in the GCF of patients with established periodontitis. Likewise, the anti-TNF-α treatment decreases periodontal indices and TNF-α levels in the GCF of patients with both autoimmune disease and periodontitis. These studies suggested that the suppression of TNF-α to treat RA might also be beneficial in ameliorating PD. A systematic review with the meta-analysis recently verified that the periodontal status of RA patients receiving antirheumatic medication was better than that of the untreated RA patients. These findings corroborate previous reports showing a beneficial effect of adalimumab (a fully humanized monoclonal antibody), tocilizumab (a humanized monoclonal anti-human IL-6 receptor antibody), and rituximab (anti-B lymphocyte) therapy on the clinical periodontal conditions, as evidenced by decreased GI, BOP, and CAL. The treatment of RA patients with DMARDs and anti-TNF decreased the extent of CAL compared to patients without the treatment.

43The treatment of PD usually does not require pharmacological treatment, and for chronic periodontitis the mechanical debridement (scaling and root planning) of the microbial biofilm is, for the majority of cases, the treatment of choice. There is evidence supporting a somewhat limited beneficial clinical effect with the adjunct use of antibiotics. Regardless, the periodontal treatment aims to reduce the microbial burden, reduce inflammation and reestablish host-microbial homeostasis.

44Several studies have been performed to evaluate the influence of nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT—oral hygiene instruction and mechanical disruption of microbial from tooth surfaces above and below the gingival margin) on the course of arthritis. A summary of the study methods and results obtained from each study is presented in Table 2. A recent systematic review was conducted to evaluate whether NSPT in patients with both RA and PD offer benefits in terms of clinical activity and inflammatory markers of RA. A total of eight studies were included in this review and clinical (DAS28) and serological (ESR, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α) markers were evaluated before and after treatment. The outcome of these studies supported a reduction in DAS28 and ESR scores by the periodontal treatment, while other parameters did not change after PD treatment.

45Other observational clinical trials and the systematic review with meta-analysis also evaluated the effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on RA (and PD) biomarkers. The results of these studies demonstrated that treatment significantly reduced the levels of MMP-8, PGE2, IL-6, and t-PA in the GCF of RA patients; however, the systemic biomarkers of RA (ESR, CRP and RF) were not improved. This finding could be attributed to the use of immune-modulating medications by the RA patients (e.g., prednisolone and MTX), which would account for the low baseline DAS28 scores. However, a reduction in the DAS28 and ESR scores in RA patients after NSPT was reported in some studies.

46The cytokine profiles in the serum of patients with PD and RA were investigated and then compared to healthy controls. The serum levels of TNF-α were elevated in patients with combined RA/PD and were positively correlated with the RA activity and gingival BOP in patients with moderate to high disease activity. Furthermore, RA patients with increased levels of TNF-α showed increased BOP and clinical periodontal attachment loss compared to those with normal levels of TNF-α. It is thus likely that the elevated levels of TNF-α contribute to periodontal inflammation in patients with RA.

47Altogether, biological DMARD therapies might be suggested as an adjunctive approach for prevention or treatment of PD in patients with arthritis due to the anti-inflammatory effects of this class of medication in the periodontal tissue. On the other hand, NSPT has limited effects/benefits to reduce the RA clinical scores. However, interpretation of this evidence is restricted in the majority of studies because of important limitations, such as: Small number of studies, sample population, criteria for definition of PD and RA, the observational design of the studies, history of other medications used to treat RA that might have masked the impact of RA on the development of PD, short follow-up period, and associated environmental risk factors. For all those reasons, the findings of the current literature should be interpreted with caution, and therefore, well-controlled, randomized, prospective, multicenter large clinical trials are required to further corroborate these evidences.

48A growing body of pre-clinical animal model and epidemiological studies undoubtedly indicated that there is a strong relationship between RA and PD. The convincing biological correlation between both diseases can mainly occur by means of: (1) Genetic susceptibility (shared epitope (SE)-coding HLA-DRB1 allele), (2) microbial status (P. gingivalis bacteria, microbial dysbiosis at distant sites, i.e., gut microbiome, and the role of citrullination, and ACPA), and (3) inflammatory response (cytokines and pattern of immune inflammatory response toward the Th17 profile). Despite all of this, not all studies have detailed the biological mechanisms outlining how PD aggravates RA and vice-versa. In this sense, researchers should better define these mechanisms and establish cause-and-effect relationships during the progression of both conditions. This can be accomplished through well-designed pre-clinical experiments to determine systemic and tissue-specific alterations during RA and PD. Moreover, large scale, randomized, well-controlled, clinical trials are warranted to evaluate the impact of the PD treatment on the clinical course of arthritis. This should be done by means of meticulous clinical evaluation of the periodontal tissues in individuals with RA-PD, to produce a comprehensive understanding into the oral conditions of these patients. Increased knowledge of the cross-talk between both diseases could improve the clinical treatment of inflammatory diseases.

49Finally, the recognition of the association between RA and PD, and the possible biological mechanisms involved during the pathogenesis of these conditions play an important role in the management of patients in need of periodontal and arthritis treatment. This means that the protocol care for patients in the treatment for RA could be altered to include periodontal examination in those patients, and in the case of a positive diagnosis of PD, the protocol treatment could be associated with the resolution of periodontal inflammation by means of NSPT. On the other hand, periodontal patients that are diagnosed with RA should have improvement of their periodontal status with the medications taken to treat arthritis, such as biological DMARDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs because of its immune-modulatory effects for both diseases. Taken together, rheumatologists and periodontitis should be aware of this strong association seeking to improve the treatment modalities to achieve better clinical outcomes.

50An increased understanding of the biological interactions and reciprocal influences between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis can contribute to significant advances of the study of the pathophysiology of both conditions and may also have therapeutic implications for the therapeutic management of RA and periodontitis. These conditions have various risk factors in common such as environmental, smoking, socioeconomic status, genetic (SE-coding HLA-DRB1 allele), dysbiosis of gut and oral microbiome, and inflammatory response; which suggest common pathogenic mechanisms. Moreover, there is evidence suggesting a role for periodontitis-associated bacteria (P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. intermedia) in citrullination. Since citrullination is characteristically increased in RA and may also participate in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, it may represent a biological mechanism bridging reciprocal influences between RA and periodontitis. Below are the key points of this review:Current evidence points to a pivotal role of microbiome in the pathogenesis of inflammatory conditions and its imbalance may ultimately result in the disease initiation.P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans are currently the two most important microorganisms involved in the pathogenesis of PD and RA and are associated with increased citrullination. Evidence suggests that increased citrullination may also participate in tissue destruction associated with periodontitis.A bidirectional causal relationship between RA and PD is hypothesized, and citrullination may represent a key mechanism mediating reciprocal influences in this biological intersection.Clinical studies suggest that the RA treatment may ameliorate PD. Conversely, there are controversial reports on the benefits of the PD treatment in the improvement of RA. Clinical studies are difficult and limited because of a number of biases, particularly in the approach to control the influence of tobacco use. Studies in never-smokers will provide important information on the reciprocal effects of therapeutic management of RA and PD.

51Current evidence points to a pivotal role of microbiome in the pathogenesis of inflammatory conditions and its imbalance may ultimately result in the disease initiation.

52P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans are currently the two most important microorganisms involved in the pathogenesis of PD and RA and are associated with increased citrullination. Evidence suggests that increased citrullination may also participate in tissue destruction associated with periodontitis.

53A bidirectional causal relationship between RA and PD is hypothesized, and citrullination may represent a key mechanism mediating reciprocal influences in this biological intersection.

54Clinical studies suggest that the RA treatment may ameliorate PD. Conversely, there are controversial reports on the benefits of the PD treatment in the improvement of RA. Clinical studies are difficult and limited because of a number of biases, particularly in the approach to control the influence of tobacco use. Studies in never-smokers will provide important information on the reciprocal effects of therapeutic management of RA and PD.