title: Effect of dental metal ions on glutathione levels in THP-1 human monocytes.
abstract: The release of metal ions from dental restorations has been well established, but the sublethal effects of these ions on oral tissues remain undefined. Metal ions are a potential cause of sublethal oxidative stress in cells. Oxidative stress is known to alter cellular processes which are important in the inflammation of tissues. The presence of oxidative stress is commonly assessed by measuring the oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) forms of cellular glutathione. Normally, the majority of cellular glutathione exists as GSH and the GSH-GSSG ratio is high. Since monocytes often orchestrate inflammatory responses, oxidative stress in monocytes is important. Our hypothesis for the current work was that metal ions induce oxidative stress in monocytes which is manifested by a lower GSH-GSSG ratio. Human THP-1 monocytes were exposed for 24 h to sublethal concentrations of ions of Ag, Be, Co, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pd, and Zn--all known to be released from dental biomaterials. GSH and GSSG were measured using colorimetric assays. Cu lowered the GSH-GSSG ratio as hypothesized, but the ratio could not be determined for other metals because other metal ions interfered with the GSSG assay. However, a statistically significant (ANOVA/Tukey) increase in GSH per cell was observed upon exposure to Ag (50%), Co (100%), Hg (250%) and Zn (10%). This increase may be indicative of an oxidative stress in its own right. Alterations in GSH levels may be important to how released metal ions alter cytokine secretion from monocytes and other cells which play a role in the inflammatory response to dental biomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, Augusta 30912-1260, USA. watahaj@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wataha
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lockwood
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rakich
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials; D008670:Metals; D005978:Glutathione; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide