Association of a dysbiotic oral microbiota with the development of focal lymphocytic sialadenitis in IκB-ζ-deficient mice.

Lee, Junho; Alam, Jehan; Choi, Eunji; Ko, Yeon Kyeong; Lee, Ahreum; Choi, Youngnim

Mice lacking IκB-ζ, a protein encoded by the Nfkbiz gene, spontaneously develop a Sjögren's syndrome-like disease involving the lachrymal glands, but no salivary gland symptoms have been reported. We found that Nfkbiz−/− female mice presented a significantly reduced salivary flow rate, focal lymphocytic sialadenitis (FLS), and a dysbiotic oral microbiota at week 24. To dissect the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the salivary gland phenotype, Nfkbiz / and Nfkbiz−/− mice were cohoused after weaning and evaluated at week 20. Cohousing alleviated the salivary gland phenotype of Nfkbiz−/− mice but did not induce any disease phenotype in Nfkbiz / mice. Additionally, the oral microbiota in the cohoused mice was synchronized toward that in Nfkbiz / mice. In conclusion, IκB-ζ-deficient mice developed hyposalivation and FLS, in which a dysbiotic oral microbiota played an important role. This finding suggests that the dysbiotic oral microbiota could be a therapeutic target.

NPJ Biofilms & Microbiomes, 2020, Vol 6, Issue 1, pN.PAG

2055-5008

Academic Journal

10.1038/s41522-020-00158-4