Study on the dynamic changes of oral microbiota in type 2 diabetes patients with periodontitis after initial periodontal therapy

Abstract

Objectives: To clarify the effect of initial periodontal therapy on the dynamic changes of oral (saliva, dorsal tongue and subgingival plaque) microbiota in periodontitis patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 14 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP group) and 14 CP patients with T2DM (CP-T2DM group) were included from Department of Periodontology, School and Hospital of Stomatology,Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University. The microbial samples were collected from saliva, dorsal tongue and subgingival plaque of first molars at baseline, 1.5 and 3 months after initial periodontal therapy, and were detected by 16S rRNA (V3-V4 region) gene sequencing. The sequencing data were analyzed to obtain microbial distribution and community structure information. The same professional periodontist evaluated the periodontal status of patients according to periodontitis detection indices before and after initial periodontal therapy. Meanwhile, patients' blood samples were collected and related metabolic indices were evaluated. Results: After initial periodontal therapy, the glycosylated hemoglobin levels [(7.46±1.69)%] in CP-T2DM group were significantly improved than that at baseline [(7.65±1.34)%] (t=0.52,P=0.610). The probing depth of the sampling sites [CP group: (2.94±0.46) mm, CP-T2DM group: (2.95±0.35) mm] and bleeding index (CP group: 1.91±0.42, CP-T2DM group: 1.67±0.49) at 3 months after treatment were significantly decreased than the probing depth [CP group: (3.99±0.77) mm, CP-T2DM group: (3.80±0.76) mm] (F=25.61, P<0.001; F=17.63, P<0.001) and bleeding index (CP group: 3.03±0.52, CP-T2DM group: 2.54±0.65) (F=28.43, P<0.001; F=20.21, P<0.001) at baseline. The flora analysis showed that the α and β diversity indices of the same sites in the CP and CP-T2DM groups did not change significantly before and after the initial therapy, but the bacterial abundance at each site changed. There were commonalities and differences in the microbial composition of each site in the CP and CP-T2DM groups. Among them, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in saliva and dorsal tongue samples of the two groups after treatment was basically consistent with the change trend in the subgingival plaque microbes. In the subgingival plaque of the CP group, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria showed a gradual increase with the prolongation of initial periodontal therapy; while in the CP-T2DM group, it showed a trend of first increase and then decrease. Syntrophy, Dethiosulfate, Methanobacteriaceae and TG5 in CP and CP-T2DM groups were all significantly dominant bacteria in subgingival plaque at baseline (P<0.05). Moreover, in the CP-T2DM group Spirochetes also showed a significant advantage. At 1.5 months after treatment, Rhizobacteria, Alcaligenes, Comamomons, Delftia, Blautella, etc. were dominant in subgingival plaque (P<0.05). Firmicutes, Clostridia/Clostridiales, Enterococci and Ruminococci showed significant differences at 3 months (P<0.05). Conclusions: Plaques in saliva and tongue dorsal could reflect the effects of initial periodontal therapy on the dynamic changes of microorganisms to a certain extent. CP and CP-T2DM patients had differences in microbial composition and responses to initial periodontal therapy.