Periodontitis deteriorates renal fibrosis and macrophage infiltration in rats with chronic kidney disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of periodontitis on renal function and morphology in rats with or without nephrectomy (Nx)-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Rats were divided into sham surgery (Sham), Sham with tooth ligation (ShamL), Nx, and NxL groups. Periodontitis was induced by tooth ligation at 16-week olds. Creatinine, alveolar bone area, and renal histopathology were analyzed at 20-week olds.

Results: Creatinine did not differ between the Sham and ShamL groups or between the Nx and NxL groups. The ShamL and NxL groups (both p = 0.002) had less alveolar bone area than the Sham group. The NxL group had fewer glomeruli than the Nx group (p < 0.000). The periodontitis groups demonstrated more tubulointerstitial fibrosis (Sham vs. ShamL p = 0.002, Nx vs. NxL p < 0.000) and macrophage infiltration (Sham vs. ShamL p = 0.002, Nx vs. NxL p = 0.006) than the groups without periodontitis. Only the NxL group had greater renal TNFα expression than the Sham group (p < 0.003).

Conclusions: These suggest that periodontitis increases renal fibrosis and inflammation in the presence or absence of CKD but does not affect renal function. Periodontitis also increases TNFα expression in the presence of CKD.