Oral Pathobionts Aggravate Myocardial Infarction Through Mobilization of B2 Cells

B Bo-Yan Chen (Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China (B.-Y.C., S.-Z.D.).) H Hong Zhu (School of Life and Health Technology) Y Yu-Lin Li J Jun Zhang S Shuo Xu (Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry) L Lu-Jun Zhou (Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).) L Lin-Juan Du (National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).) T Ting Liu X Xue-Nan Sun (Touchstone Diabetes Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas (X.-N.S.).) G Guo-Cai Tian (Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).) J Jie Li X Xiao-Qian Meng (Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).) H Hui-Lin Ye X Xue-Bing Bai (Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).) W Wen-Zhen Lin (Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).) H Hu-Xiao Li (Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).) J Jian-Xuan Li (Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, China (J.-X.L., Y.D.).) J Jian-Yong Sun (Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).) Y Yan Liu W Wu-Chang Zhang (Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).) L Lu Zhang J Jing-Yuan Fang D Daqian Xu (Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Frontier Medical Research on Cancer Metabolism, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine) M Mengfei Yu (Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., M.Y., Q.C., S.-Z.D.).) Y Yuxiang Dai (Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering) Q Qianming Chen S Sheng-Zhong Duan

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a high-prevalence disease that threatens human survival and quality of life worldwide. Considerable evidence has suggested that periodontitis (PD) is detrimental to MI. However, the direct impact of PD on MI is unclear; which oral pathobionts contribute to and how microbial signals regulate the pathogenesis of MI remain obscure. METHODS: The effect of PD on MI was assessed in a mouse model that combined ligature-induced PD with MI. Ectopic accumulation of oral pathobionts in infarcted hearts was identified by bacterial sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Oral pathobionts–reactive B2 cells detrimental for MI were determined by flow cytometry and verified in gnotobiotic mice. Several mouse strains, including CD45.1, Kaede, and knockout strains for Ighm, Rag1, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13, S1pr, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, were used for mechanistical exploration. Mutant strains of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis deficient in adhesion proteins were generated to investigate bacterial mechanism involved in MI exacerbation. Patients with MI with or without PD were recruited to test the deteriorating impact of PD on MI and the association between oral pathobionts and cardiac function. RESULTS: Ligature-induced PD and subgingival plaques of patients with PD exacerbated MI in mice by oral pathobionts. Prevotella intermedia , Fusobacterium nucleatum , Selenomonas sputigena , Porphyromonas gingivalis , and Bacteroides plebeius expanded in the oral cavity and ectopically accumulated in the infarcted hearts through impairment of epithelial and endothelial cell barriers. These oral pathobionts mobilized B cells, particularly B2 cells that produced interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, to aggravate MI. Mechanistically, oral pathobiont–promoted B cells egress from cervical lymph nodes by a sphingosine-1-phosphate–sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor axis and infiltrate infarcted hearts by a C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13–C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 5 axis. CONCLUSIONS: Oral pathobionts and proinflammatory B2 cells significantly exacerbate MI, supporting the oral-heart axis as a novel pathogenic pathway. Interventions targeting PD, oral pathobionts, or related immunological mechanisms may improve the therapy of MI.

Article Details

Journal Circulation
Volume / Issue Vol. 152, Issue 19
Published November 11, 2025
Pages 1348-1370
ISSN 0009-7322
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Circulation

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0009-7322 Health Sciences

Authors (27)

B

Bo-Yan Chen

Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China (B.-Y.C., S.-Z.D.).

H

Hong Zhu

School of Life and Health Technology

Y

Yu-Lin Li

J

Jun Zhang

S

Shuo Xu

Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry

L

Lu-Jun Zhou

Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).

L

Lin-Juan Du

National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).

T

Ting Liu

X

Xue-Nan Sun

Touchstone Diabetes Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas (X.-N.S.).

G

Guo-Cai Tian

Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).

J

Jie Li

X

Xiao-Qian Meng

Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).

H

Hui-Lin Ye

X

Xue-Bing Bai

Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).

W

Wen-Zhen Lin

Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).

H

Hu-Xiao Li

Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).

J

Jian-Xuan Li

Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, China (J.-X.L., Y.D.).

J

Jian-Yong Sun

Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).

Y

Yan Liu

W

Wu-Chang Zhang

Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, College of Stomatology, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., Y.-L.L., J.Z., S.X., L.-J.Z., L.-J.D., T.L., G.-C.T., J.L., X.-Q.M., H.-L.Y., X.-B.B., W.-Z.L., H.-X.L., J.-Y.S., Y.L., W.-C.Z.).

L

Lu Zhang

J

Jing-Yuan Fang

D

Daqian Xu

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Frontier Medical Research on Cancer Metabolism, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

M

Mengfei Yu

Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China (B.-Y.C., H.Z., M.Y., Q.C., S.-Z.D.).

Y

Yuxiang Dai

Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering

Q

Qianming Chen

S

Sheng-Zhong Duan