Volatile components of cigarette smoke: effect of acrolein and acetaldehyde on human gingival fibroblasts in vitro.
BACKGROUND
Tobacco and some of its volatile and non-volatile components have been found to affect many types of cells including gingival fibroblasts. Since normal gingival fibroblast functioning is fundamental to the maintenance of the periodontal connective tissue, as well as to wound healing, we examined the effect of acrolein and acetaldehyde, volatile components of cigarette smoke, on proliferation, attachment, and ultrastructure of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in culture.


METHODS
Human gingival fibroblast (HGF) strains derived from healthy individuals with non-inflamed gingiva were used in this study. The cells were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of acrolein and acetaldehyde. Cell attachment and proliferation were evaluated after incubation for 3 hours and 5 days, respectively. In addition, the cells were examined with a transmission electron microscope in order to evaluate their morphology.


RESULTS
The results show that acrolein and acetaldehyde produced dose-dependent inhibition of HGF attachment and proliferation. The cytotoxic effect was, however, reversible when both substances were removed, after 3 days, from the medium. The main ultrastructural finding for the HGF cytoplasm was the presence of vacuoles and lysosomal structures that became prominent with increasing concentration of acrolein and acetaldehyde.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experimental data suggest that acrolein and acetaldehyde, volatile components of tobacco smoke, are detrimental to HGF survival and consequently to the oral connective tissue. According to our morpho-functional evidence, these findings corroborate clinical and epidemiological investigations demonstrating smoke as a risk factor in the development of periodontal disease.
Cattaneo
V
V
Department of Periodontology, University of Pavia, Italy.
Cetta
G
G
Rota
C
C
Vezzoni
F
F
Rota
M T
MT
Gallanti
A
A
Boratto
R
R
Poggi
P
P
D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000171:Acrolein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012906:Smoke / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects
D003603:Cytotoxins; D012906:Smoke; D000171:Acrolein; D000079:Acetaldehyde