Effects of growth factors on dental pulp cell sensitivity to amalgam toxicity.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine the effects of growth factor treatment on dental pulp cell sensitivity to toxicity.


METHODS
The toxicity of zinc-containing and zinc-free dental amalgam was tested on four types of cells; glia, neurons, embryonic stem cells, and dental pulp cells. The effects of six different growth factors were tested on dental pulp cell sensitivity to amalgam toxicity.


RESULTS
Zinc-containing amalgam was highly toxic to all cell types tested. Zinc-free amalgam was less toxic, but it was most toxic to dental pulp cells. Exposure of dental pulp cells to the growth factors IGF-I or BMP-7 had no effect on their morphology or rate of cell division, and did not alter their sensitivity to zinc-free amalgam toxicity. Exposure to EGF, bFGF, or TGF-beta altered the morphology and decreased the rate of cell division, and the cells were no longer sensitive to zinc-free amalgam toxicity. Exposure to BMP-2 also altered the morphology and decreased the rate of cell division, but the cells remained sensitive to zinc-free amalgam toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that untreated dental pulp cells are highly sensitive to amalgam toxicity, but that sensitivity can be decreased by exposure to certain growth factors. Therefore, for treatment of conditions in which pulp cells may come in contact with substances released from dental materials, such as pulp capping, the use of amalgam should be avoided unless the pulp cells are first treated with the proper growth factors.
Cabrera
Smita
S
Department of Orthodontics, Marquette University Dental School, 561 N. 15th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
Barden
Doug
D
Wolf
Megan
M
Lobner
Doug
D
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000633:toxicity*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D015032:Zinc / Q000009:adverse effects
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D015032:Zinc