Akkermansia muciniphila improves periodontitis by inhibiting Fusobacterium nucleatum

Periodontitis is the most important cause of tooth loss in adults and is closely related to various systemic diseases. Its starting factor is plaque biofilm, and the primary treatment method is plaque control. Studies have confirmed Fusobacterium nucleatum can cause periodontitis through its virulence factors and copolymerized effects with other periodontal pathogens, such as the red complex. Inhibiting Fusobacterium nucleatum is an essential target for blocking the development of periodontitis. The time-consuming and costly traditional periodontal treatment, periodontal scaling and root planning are a massive burden on individuals and public health. Antibiotic use may lead to oral microbial resistance and microbiome imbalance, while probiotics have been shown to regulate microbial balance. Akkermansia muciniphila is a critical probiotic isolated from the human intestine. It can protect the integrity of the epithelial barrier, regulate and maintain flora homeostasis, improve metabolism, and colonize the oral cavity. Its abundance is inversely correlated with various diseases. We hypothesized that the Akkermansia muciniphila could inhibit the effects of Fusobacterium nucleatum and alleviate periodontitis. Bacterial co-culture experiments showed Akkermansia muciniphila could inhibit the growth and the expression of virulence gene of Fusobacterium nucleatum. After treating gingival epithelial cells (GECs) with Fusobacterium nucleatum and Akkermansia muciniphila, transcriptome sequencing and ELISA experiments on medium supernatant showed Akkermansia muciniphila inhibited the inflammatory effect of Fusobacterium nucleatum on GECs . Finally, animal experiments demonstrated Akkermansia muciniphila could inhibit Fusobacterium nucleatum-induced periodontitis in mice.