Benefits of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Probiotic in Experimental Periodontitis

• Autores: Luiz F.F. Oliveira, Sérgio L. Salvador, Pedro H.F. Silva, Flávia A.C. Furlaneto, Luciene Figueiredo, Renato Casarin, Edilson Ervolino, Daniela B. Palioto, Sérgio Luís Scombatti de Souza, Mário Taba Jr., Arthur B. Novaes Jr., Michel R. Messora
• Localización: Journal of periodontology, ISSN 0022-3492, Vol. 88, Nº. 2, 2017, págs. 197-208
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Background: This study evaluates effects of topical administration of probiotic bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium on experimental periodontitis (EP) in rats.

    Methods: Thirty-two rats were divided into groups C (control; without EP), EP (EP only), C-HN019 (control+probiotic), and EP-HN019 (EP+probiotic). On day 0 of the experiment, animals of groups EP and EP-HN019 received cotton ligatures around mandibular first molars (MFMs). In groups C-HN019 and EP-HN019, 1 mL of suspensions containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. lactis) HN019 was topically administered in the subgingival region of MFMs on days 0, 3, and 7. In groups C and EP, topical administrations were performed using a sham suspension (without probiotic). All animals were euthanized at day 14. Gingival tissue, hemimandibles, and oral biofilm were collected. Data were statistically analyzed (P <0.05).

    Results: Group EP presented greater bone porosity, trabecular separation, and connective tissue attachment loss (CTAL) as well as reduced bone volume than all other groups (P <0.05). In group EP-HN019, there were greater proportions of Actinomyces and Streptococcus-like species and lower proportions of Veillonella parvula, Capnocytophaga sputigena, Eikenella corrodens, and Prevotella intermedia-like species than group EP. Group EP-HN019 presented greater expressions of osteoprotegerin and β-defensins than group EP (P <0.05). Group EP presented greater levels of interleukin-1β and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand than group EP-HN019 (P <0.05).

    Conclusion: Topical use of B. lactis HN019 promotes a protective effect against alveolar bone loss and CTALs attributable to EP in rats, modifying immunoinflammatory and microbiologic parameters.

    According to the World Health Organization, probiotics are live microorganisms that can confer health benefits to the host when consumed in adequate amounts.1 Advantageous effects of probiotics have been reported on colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, enteric infection, irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer, and chemotherapy-induced mucositis.2 This therapy may modify the bacterial environment and modulate the host immune response.3 Probiotic bacteria can affect oral ecology, but the mechanisms for this are unknown.4 Studies that evaluated effects of probiotics on treatment of periodontal disease demonstrated they can reduce periodontopathogens, improve periodontal clinical parameters, decrease levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and potentiate the effects of scaling and root planing.5,6 Studies5-7 that investigated effects of probiotics on periodontal diseases to date used mainly microorganisms from the genus Lactobacillus. However, other potential probiotics deserve investigations. Hojo et al.8 evaluated distribution of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species in patients with periodontitis and healthy participants. Among eleven Lactobacillus species detected in saliva, no species was specifically associated with periodontal health. In contrast, the authors observed Bifidobacterium counts and species might be associated with periodontal health status and with treatment progress in patients with periodontitis.

    Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. lactis) is generally present in the gut microbiome and presents a symbiotic relationship with the host.9 It is considered a potential probiotic because it possesses immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties.9 Some studies demonstrated that B. lactis alters colonization of cariogenic bacteria and prevents dental caries10 as well as decreases plaque and gingival indexes.11 Whether it can also inhibit periodontal bone loss and the underlying mechanisms involved are yet to be determined. To the best knowledge of the authors, there are no studies evaluating effects of the genus Bifidobacterium on periodontitis.

    Among the several strains of Bifidobacterium, B. lactis HN019 is a well-characterized probiotic strain with documented effects of meaningful magnitude especially in the area of immune system modulation.12 Some studies also showed antipathogenic effects of this strain.13,14 In vitro studies by the authors (data not published) showed that B. lactis HN019 presented antimicrobial effects against some periodontopathogens and therefore could be a potential probiotic for treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases.

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate microbiologic, histomorphometric, microtomographic, and immunologic outcomes following administration of B. lactis HN019 in rats with experimental periodontitis (EP).