title: Cytotoxic effects of short-chain carboxylic acids on human gingival epithelial cells.
abstract: Previous studies showed that foods that are retained on the dentition can accumulate high levels of short-chain carboxylic acids (acetic, formic, lactic and propionic). Since gingival epithelium is the first periodontal tissue to be challenged by oral factors, a study was undertaken to determine whether short-chain carboxylic acids can affect epithelial cells in vitro. Immortalized human oral epithelial cells were grown in supplemented keratinocyte growth medium at 37 degrees C, and the effects of short-chain carboxylic acids were determined with tetrazolium-based and trypan blue exclusion assays. Low concentrations of short-chain carboxylic acids inhibited the growth of human oral epithelial cells, while higher concentrations led to cell death. The effects of short-chain carboxylic acids on the cells were dose-dependent and varied among the individual acids (propionate > formate > lactate > acetate). Growth inhibition was partly reversible and growth resumed after removal of the acids. However, the time needed for recovery of the cells increased with short-chain carboxylic acids concentration, consistent with progressively greater damage to the cells at higher short-chain carboxylic acids concentrations. The observed effects of short-chain carboxylic acids on gingival cells in vitro supported our hypothesis that short-chain carboxylic acids can damage the integrity of gingival epithelium in situ.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Section, Forsyth Dental Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashket
mesh_terms: D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids