Effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis Infection on PGC-1α in Skeletal Muscle After Endurance Training In Vivo.
Hayashi K, Takeuchi Y, Kobayashi H, Tanabe G, Churei H, Ueno T et al. · Clinical and experimental dental research · 2026
Objectives: It is well known that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major pathogen in periodontitis, causes systemic diseases. This study investigated the expression of PGC-1α (the most important factor in muscle mitochondria synthesis) following endurance training to clarify the relationship between P. gingivalis infection and muscle endurance capacity.
Materials and methods: Twenty 8-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups. One group was intraperitoneally administered sonicated P. gingivalis (P. g-group), and the other group was administered saline (Control-group). Three weeks after administration, gastrocnemius muscles and blood from both groups were collected 24 h after treadmill exercise. The expressions of PGC-1α and TNF-α in gastrocnemius muscle were measured, along with serum antibody titers for IgG, in response to P. gingivalis.
Results: Serum IgG antibody titers and TNF-α expression in skeletal muscle were significantly higher in the P. g-group than in the Control-group. PGC-1α expression was significantly lower in the P. g-group than in the Control-group. A correlation was observed between PGC-1α and TNF-α expression.
Conclusion: Our
Result: suggests that the increase in endurance following training may be suppressed by P. gingivalis infection.