The aging of the oral microbiome is relatively understudied in commparison to the present interest in the aging of the gut microbiome, but there is still a fairly sizable literature on the topic. There is clear evidence for a relationship between the oral microbiome and age-related disease, which one will largely find in the context of the potential effects of inflammatory gum disease on cardiovascular and neurodegenerative conditions, where researchers are interested in the leakage of microbes and their metabolites into the bloodstream via injured gums. The literature is not consistent when it comes to effect sizes, however; it is unclear as to how much of a problem this is.
Today's open access paper presents a different focus on the oral microbiome, more akin to work on the gut microbiome. The authors are concerned with the effects of the oral microbiome and its metabolites on the harmful behaviors of senescent cells. Obviously one can mount a good argument for effects in the mouth and the role of cellular senescence in inflammatory gum disease, but going beyond that it is interesting to think about the possible size of the effect of the oral microbiome on senescent cell behavior elsewhere in the body. Again, the effect size are uncertain, however. Mechanisms might be plausible, but equally they may not as much of an issue as other problems in the aging body. Whether this is the case remains to be concretely determined.
Cellular senescence is a fundamental hallmark of aging. Triggered by diverse stressors, this process is defined by irreversible cell cycle arrest and the development of a complex senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The accumulation of senescent cells exerts harmful effects on the tissue microenvironment, including promoting inflammation and tissue dysfunction, thereby playing a unique role in systemic metabolic dysfunction and various age-related pathologies.
The oral microbiome is hailed as the second largest microbial community in the human body and serves as the 'second gut' microbial reservoir for human aging. It features a highly diverse ecosystem comprising bacteria, fungi, and viruses. To date, it has been discovered that the oral microbiome significantly influences host systemic and oral health by modulating metabolic and immune pathways. Recent attention has focused on the crosstalk between cellular senescence and oral microbiome dysbiosis and its consequences for host health.
While evidence indicates that the oral microbiome can accelerate disease progression by stimulating SASP-mediated systemic chronic inflammation, the intricate nature of their interactions and their collective impact on host aging remain unclear. Here, we first explore the correlation between the oral microbiome and aging. Then, we systematically summarize how the oral microbiome promotes the progression of aging-related diseases through the secretion of SASP components to induce chronic inflammation. Finally, we discuss the efficacy of therapeutic measures targeting the SASP in diseases.
View the full article at FightAging
