Oral microbiome dysbiosis and oral-gut microbial network disruption in hand osteoarthritis: data from the Xiangya Osteoarthritis Study.

OBJECTIVES

The oral microbiome plays a critical role in modulating systemic inflammation, partly through its interactions with the gut microbiome. Although gut microbiome dysbiosis has been implicated in symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (SHOA), the role of oral microbiome dysbiosis in SHOA and its relationship with gut microbiome dysbiosis remain unclear. Elucidating these associations could provide novel insights into SHOA pathogenesis.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from the Xiangya Osteoarthritis (XO) Study, an ongoing community-based observational study. Saliva samples were analysed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Oral microbial richness, composition and relative abundance of specific taxa were compared between SHOA participants and controls without SHOA. Correlations within the oral-gut microbiome network were also assessed and compared between groups.

RESULTS

Compared with controls (n=712), participants with SHOA (n=52) exhibited significantly lower oral microbial richness (p=0.007) and altered composition (p=0.007). The relative abundance of the genus Trichococcus was significantly higher in SHOA participants (β=0.437 (95% CI 0.174 to 0.699), p=0.001, Q=0.073) and positively associated with SHOA severity. Furthermore, the number of significant correlations within the oral-gut microbiome network was markedly reduced in SHOA participants compared with controls. Notably, Trichococcus abundance in the oral microbiome correlated positively with the gut microbial KEGG pathway of tyrosine metabolism (r=0.137, p=0.001, Q=0.047), both linked to SHOA.

CONCLUSION

Oral microbiome dysbiosis and disruption of the oral-gut microbiome network are associated with prevalent SHOA. These findings suggest a potential role of the oral-gut microbiome axis in SHOA pathogenesis. Larger studies are needed to confirm these associations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04033757.