AUTHOR=Hu Yao , Zhou Wen , Zhu Chengguang , Zhou Yujie , Guo Qiang , Huang Xiaoyu , Yang Bina , Ren Biao , Cheng Lei 

TITLE=The Synergistic Effect of Nicotine and Staphylococcus aureus on Peri-Implant Infections

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2021.658380

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2021.658380

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>Smoking is considered a key risk factor for implant survival; however, how it interacts with the pathogens in peri-implant infections is not clear. Here, we identified that nicotine, the key component of cigarette smoking, can interact with <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> and synergistically induce peri-implant infections in a rat osteolysis model. The nicotine–<italic>S. aureus</italic> combination group increased the gross bone pathology, osteolysis, periosteal reactions, and bone resorption compared to the nicotine or <italic>S. aureus</italic> single treated group (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Nicotine did not promote the proliferation of <italic>S. aureus</italic> both <italic>in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic>, but it can significantly upregulate the expression of staphylococcal protein A (SpA), a key virulence factor of <italic>S. aureus</italic>. The nicotine–<italic>S. aureus</italic> combination also synergistically activated the expression of RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05) to promote the development of peri-implant infections. The synergistic effects between nicotine and <italic>S. aureus</italic> infection can be a new target to reduce the peri-implant infections.</p>