Dysbiosis of the upper digestive tract - a harbinger of rheumatoid arthritis?

Abstract

Currently an increasing attention in rheumatology is paid to the identification of diseases at the earliest possible time, the so-called preclinical stages, which may contribute to a more favorable response to therapy and improved prognosis. The etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still unknown. One of the possible factors of its development can be periodontal disease (PD) associated with oral dysbiosis. This review examines the relationship between the development of periodontitis and RA, discusses the involvement of the oral microbiome in the common mechanisms of the pathogenesis of PD and RA. Identified cell-mediated mechanisms that cause chronic inflammation and lead to bone resorption and destruction of the joints. The role of PD and P.gingivalis in the process of disruption of autoantigens citrullination is described.