title: Comparative effects of cyclosporin on glycosaminoglycan synthesis by gingival fibroblasts.
abstract: Histological studies show that drug-induced gingival overgrowth results from an accumulation of the connective tissue component. Despite comprising a major part of gingival connective tissue, a role for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the pathogenesis of gingival overgrowth has received scant attention. By analyzing the metabolism of 3H-glucosamine, we have compared GAG and hyaluronan synthesis by fibroblasts derived from normal and overgrown gingival tissue, and the effects of cyclosporin on GAG output. GAG production was cell density-dependent, fibroblasts cultured at low density synthesizing significantly increased quantities in comparison to confluent cultures. The effects of cyclosporin on GAG synthesis was also found to be both cell density- and cell strain-dependent. However, cyclosporin-stimulated GAG synthesis by 2/3 overgrown cell strains and 1/3 normal strains. These results suggest that a direct promotion of GAG synthesis by gingival fibroblasts in response to cyclosporin may play a role in the pathogenesis of gingival overgrowth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid