The impact of interactions between heavy metals and smoking exposures on the formation of oral microbial communities

作者：Qiwen Zheng, Yonghua Zhang, Jia Li, Shuwei Pei, Jiangyun Liu, Feng Lü, Li Zhang, Xingrong Liu, Bin Luo, Ye Ruan, Weigang Hu, Jingping Niu, Tao Tian · 发表于：Frontiers in Microbiology · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3389/fmicb.2024.1502812 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity、Gut microbiota and health、Oral microbiology and periodontitis research

Introduction: The primary objective of our investigation was to assess the repercussions of prolonged exposure to heavy metals and smoking on the microbiome of the oral buccal mucosa. Concurrently, we aimed to elucidate the intricate interplay between external environmental exposures and the composition of the oral microbial ecosystem, thereby discerning its potential implications for human health. Methods: Our study cohort was stratified into four distinct groups: MS (characterized by concurrent exposure to heavy metals and smoking), M (exposed solely to heavy metals), S (exposed solely to smoking), and C (comprising individuals serving as a control group). Specimens of buccal mucosa and blood were systematically acquired from the participants, facilitating subsequent microbial diversity analysis across the four oral buccal mucosa sample cohorts through 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques. Simultaneously, blood samples were tested for heavy metal concentrations. In addition, we performed topological analyses by constructing microbial networks. Results: Our findings notably indicate that co-exposure to heavy metals and smoking yielded a more pronounced alteration in the diversity of oral microflora when compared to singular exposures to either heavy metals or smoking. By comparing the oral bacterial communities and functional pathways between the four groups, we found significant differences in bacterial communities and functional pathways between the groups. Notably, the imp...