biostudies-literatureMeng XScience and Technology Commission of Shanghai MunicipalityNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaScience and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission)Fundamental research program funding of Ninth People’s Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong university School of MedicinNational Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)27https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10978940biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)Uncovering the risk factors of pulmonary hypertension and its mechanisms is crucial for the prevention and treatment of the disease. In the current study, we showed that experimental periodontitis, which was established by ligation of molars followed by orally smearing subgingival plaques from patients with periodontitis, exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice. Mechanistically, periodontitis dysregulated the pulmonary microbiota by promoting ectopic colonization and enrichment of oral bacteria in the lungs, contributing to pulmonary infiltration of interferon gamma positive (IFNγ⁺) T cells and aggravating the progression of pulmonary hypertension. In addition, we identified Prevotella zoogleoformans as the critical periodontitis-associated bacterium driving tInternational journal of oral sciencePeriodontitis exacerbates pulmonary hypertension by promoting IFNγ<sup>+</sup> T cell infiltration in mice.PMC1097894023ZR143830082303275Zhou LDong TZhang JTian GLin WChen CChen BBai XMeng XZhang WSun MLiu YLi YXu SDuan SDu LYe HZhou KfalsePeriodontitis exacerbates pulmonary hypertension by promoting IFNγ<sup>+</sup> T cell infiltration in mice.Uncovering the risk factors of pulmonary hypertension and its mechanisms is crucial for the prevention and treatment of the disease. In the current study, we showed that experimental periodontitis, which was established by ligation of molars followed by orally smearing subgingival plaques from patients with periodontitis, exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice. Mechanistically, periodontitis dysregulated the pulmonary microbiota by promoting ectopic colonization and enrichment of oral bacteria in the lungs, contributing to pulmonary infiltration of interferon gamma positive (IFNγ⁺) T cells and aggravating the progression of pulmonary hypertension. In addition, we identified Prevotella zoogleoformans as the critical periodontitis-associated bacterium driving t2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Mar2026-05-29T12:33:21.179Z2025-04-05T23:15:52.875ZS-EPMC109789403854872110.1038/s41368-024-00291-2