The differential expression of mglmRNA by Porphyromonas gingivalis affects the production of methyl mercaptan

Objective A large number of individuals have halitosis. The total amount of volatile sulfur compounds, which are the main cause of halitosis, has been correlated with periodontitis following bacterial infection. In this study, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), a major periodontopathogenic bacterium, was isolated from patients with halitosis by the amplification of 16S rRNA, and the ability of isolated Pg to produce methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) was determined to clarify the relationship between halitosis and Pg infection. Materials and Methods CH3SH concentrations were measured in patients using Oral Chroma. The production of CH3SH by Pg standard and clinical strains was also measured in vitro. Real-time PCR was performed to compare the expression of mglmRNA (which encoded l-methionine-a-deamino-g-mercaptomethane-lyase) among the Pg strains. The production of CH3SH and the expression of mglmRNA were also determined to assess the effects of oriental medicine. Results The production of CH3SH and the expression of mglmRNA strongly correlated with each other in the presence of l-methionine. The expression of mglmRNA by Pg W83 was strongly inhibited by magnoliaceae. Conclusion The production of CH3SH was correlated with the expression of mgl. Furthermore, the oriental medicine, magnoliaceae, may represent a potential treatment for halitosis.