Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived outer membrane vesicles travel from oral to distant organs via blood circulation in a time-dependent manner.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is closely related to a variety of systemic diseases. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is one of the key pathogens of periodontitis. The influence of P. gingivalis outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) on systemic diseases have become an emerging research topic. However, the kinetic distribution of P. gingivalis OMVs in vivo is still unknown. METHODS: Kinetic biodistribution of P. gingivalis OMVs in mice with or without periodontitis was analyzed by Near-infrared fluorescence imaging. Custom Ab-P. gingivalis OMVs were developed and verified for quantitative analysis of various organs. Systemic and liver inflammatory indexes of mice were explored by ELISA and blood routine tests. RESULTS: Our results showed that P. gingivalis OMVs mainly distributed to different systemic organs as time-dependent manner through blood circulation. The accumulation in liver and lung was particularly obvious at 6 h after administration, but lung signals was absent at 24 h. The distribution of P. gingivalis OMVs was associated with the destruction of periodontal tissue. Spatially, P. gingivalis OMVs were detected in the intercellular matrix and cytoplasm of target cells, promoting systemic and local inflammation. CONCLUSION: These findings advance our understanding of the distribution route of P. gingivalis OMVs in systemic, providing insights for developing new therapeutic strategies for patientis with periodontitis and systemic diseases.