Acetaldehyde production by non-pathogenic Neisseria in human oral microflora: Implications for carcinogenesis in upper aerodigestive tract

Citation
M. Muto et al., Acetaldehyde production by non-pathogenic Neisseria in human oral microflora: Implications for carcinogenesis in upper aerodigestive tract, INT J CANC, 88(3), 2000, pp. 342-350
Citations number
39
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
ISSN journal
0020-7136 → ACNP
Volume
88
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
342 - 350
Database
ISI
SICI code
0020-7136(20001101)88:3<342:APBNNI>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Many epidemiological studies have identified chronic alcohol consumption as a significant risk factor for cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract (UAT ) in human. Although acetaldehyde, the first metabolite from ethanol by alc ohol dehydrogenase (ADH), is regarded as a carcinogen, how systemic product ion of acetaldehyde particularly affects the UAT remains unclear. In our st udy, we searched for the regional source of acetaldehyde in UAT, especially the involvement of bacteria in the human normal oral microflora. Here we d emonstrate that, among the bacterial species identified from the human oral cavity, genus Neisseria had extremely high ADH activity and produced signi ficant amounts of acetaldehyde when cultured with medium containing ethanol in vitro. The ability to produce acetaldehyde was more than 100-fold highe r than that produced by any other genera we studied. Furthermore, alcohol i ngestion influences the bacterial composition of the oral microflora, resul ting in an increased proportion of Neisseria. Although Neisseria present: i n normal oral microflora is generally non-pathogenic, these findings sugges t that this microbe can be a regional source of carcinogenic acetaldehyde a nd thus potentially play an important role in alcohol-related carcinogenesi s in human UAT. Int. J. Cancer 88:342-350, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss. Inc.