Mouse model of experimental periodontitis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalisFusobacterium nucleatum infection: Bone loss and host response

Polak D, Wilensky A, Shapira L, Halabi A, Goldstein D, Weiss EI, Houri-Haddad Y. Mouse model of experimental periodontitis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalisFusobacterium nucleatum infection: bone loss and host response. J Clin Periodontol 2009; 36: 406-410. doi: 10.1111j.1600-051X.2009. 01393.x. Abstract Aim: To compare the effect of oral infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis or Fusobacterium nucleatum versus infection with both bacteria on mouse periodontal tissues, and to characterize the inflammatory response. Materials and Methods: Mice were orally infected with P. gingivalis, F. nucleatum or both. At 42 days post-infection, alveolar bone loss was quantified using micro-computerized tomography. Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β levels induced by the infection were quantified using the subcutaneous chamber model. Results: Mice orally infected with F. nucleatumP. gingivalis exhibited significantly more bone loss compared with that of mono-infected and sham-infected mice. F. nucleatumP. gingivalis infection also increased the levels of TNF-α and IL1β compared with the levels found in the mono-infected groups. Conclusions: Polymicrobial infection with P. gingivalisF. nucleatum aggravates alveolar bone loss and induces a stronger inflammatory response compared with that observed upon infection with either bacterium alone. The results suggest that oral infection of mice with a mixture of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum may be superior to mono-infection models of experimental periodontitis.