Oral inoculation of Enterococcus faecalis, DNA quantification and histopathological evaluation of gingival, heart and kidney tissue samples in rats

Fazle Khuda; Putri Ayu Jayusman; Badiah Baharin; Nur Najmi Mohamad Anuar; Anubhava Sharma; Nurrul Shaqinah Nasruddin

doi:10.18502/ijm.v16i3.15765

Fazle Khuda Department of Craniofacial Diagnostics and Biosciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Putri Ayu Jayusman Department of Craniofacial Diagnostics and Biosciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Badiah Baharin Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nur Najmi Mohamad Anuar Centre for Toxicology and Health Risk Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Anubhava Sharma Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Lincoln University College Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Nurrul Shaqinah Nasruddin Department of Craniofacial Diagnostics and Biosciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v16i3.15765

Keywords: Enterococcus faecalis; Gene expression; Heart disease; Kidney disease; Periodontitis

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Enterococcus faecalis is known as common pathogen for endodontic infections and cause secondary and refractory pulp periapical periodontitis. The bacteria can opportunistically colonize periodontal pockets and presents a possibility of infection developing in other organs. This research will investigate the dissemination of E. faecalis from the gingival tissue to the heart and kidney.

Materials and Methods: Three groups were formed, consisting of twelve male Sprague Dawley rats: a control group des- ignated as 0-day, and experimental groups labeled as 7-days and 14-days. Periodontitis induced by concurrent infection with sterile wire 0.2 mm insertion and E. faecalis inoculation is performed into the gingival sulcus located between the maxillary right 1st and 2nd molar teeth area. After euthanasia, tissue samples around the maxillary gingiva, maxillary jaw samples, kid- ney and heart tissues were obtained for quantitative Real-Time PCR assay and histopathological analysis.

Results: Results showed at 7-days, there was an upregulation of E. faecalis gene expression in the gingiva, heart, and kidney samples as well as infiltration of the inflammatory cells at 7-days post induction, which consequently decreased at 14-days.

Conclusion: Thus, the study suggests dissemination of E. faecalis from gingival tissue to the heart, kidney which could be probable link between periodontal disease, heart, and kidney disease.