Inflammatory responses by dentin bonding agents in human gingival cells

Objective:

The aim of this study is to investigate the cytotoxicity of three dentin bonding agents and effects of these agents on inflammatory responses, especially the expression of COX-2 protein in human gingival cells.

Methods:

Human gingival cell primary culture, Treatment of dentin bonding agent (One-Step Plus, Single Bond, Clearfil SE Bond), MTT assay, Western Blot analysis

Results:

1. All dentin bonding agents tested also induced COX-2 protein expression associated inflammatory mechanism in human gingival cells.

2. All dentin bonding agent tested significantly inhibited growth of cells depending on time (12h, 24h, and 2days) and dose (1:1000, 1:2000, 1:4000).

Conclusion:

These in vitro studies showed that dentin bonding agents were cytotoxic to human gingival cells depending on time and dose. These also were capable of stimulating COX-2 protein expression in human gingival cells. These results suggest that the activation of COX-2 expression may be one of the potential mechanisms of dentin bonding agent-induced gingival inflammation. Thus, care should be taken to reduce the possibility of gingival irritation from dentin bonding agents in clinical application until their side effects are more thoroughly studied.