Effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis on the central nervous system: activation of glial cells and exacerbation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Background: Several studies have suggested that peripheral inflammation may be involved in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). T-cells activated in the periphery enter the CNS, leading to demyelination and axonal loss. We hypothesized that peripheral infection by Porphyromonas gingivalis can affect pathological processes in the CNS and aggravate MS.