A Japanese study shows that when people suffer from periodontitis, butyric acid produced by periodontitis pathogenic bacteria has the potential to activate latent HIV and contribute to the onset of AIDS. The study was conducted by Kuniyasu Ochiai, a professor at Nihon University, and Sho Okamoto, a professor at Nagoya City University, according to a report in the Japanese Mainichi Shimbun on the 11th. Previous studies have shown that the proliferation of HIV latent in immune cells is inhibited by the action of a substance called histone deacetylase, and once the action of this enzyme is blocked, the virus becomes active and the infected person develops the disease. On the other hand, periodontitis pathogenic bacteria make large amounts of butyric acid during the proliferation process, and tests have shown that the amount of butyric acid in the gap between the teeth and gums of periodontitis patients is 20 to 30 times higher than that of healthy people. Ochiai Bangkang et al. studied the interaction between butyric acid and histone deacetylase. They placed immune cells harboring HIV in cultures of periodontitis pathogens containing butyric acid and confirmed that HIV proliferated rapidly. Thus, the researchers confirmed that butyric acid can inhibit histone deacetylase and that butyric acid produced in large quantities due to periodontitis can indeed be used to activate latent HIV. It is reported that more than 80% of Japanese people over 25 years of age suffer from various degrees of periodontitis, and there are many HIV carriers in Japan. Professor Kuniyasu Ochiai said that those who do not realize they are infected with HIV may develop the disease as a result of periodontitis. In the future, researchers intend to confirm this through animal experiments and epidemiological surveys. Periodontitis has been reported to be associated with diabetes and heart disease, and the results of this study suggest that periodontitis may also activate latent HIV. Experts here say that the results may be an opportunity for people to regain awareness of the importance of keeping their mouths clean.