Triclosan alters antimicrobial and inflammatory responses of epithelial cells.
Periodontal diseases are a class of pathologies wherein oral microbes induce harmful immune responses in a susceptible host. Therefore, an agent that can both reduce microbial burden and lessen pathogenesis of localized inflammation would have beneficial effects in periodontal disease; 2,4,4-trichloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl-ether [triclosan] is currently used in oral care products owing to broad spectrum antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.


OBJECTIVE
To determine effects of triclosan on the response of oral epithelial cells to stimulation with the inflammatory microbial product lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a ligand for toll-like receptor 4 [TLR4].


METHODS
Primary human oral epithelial cells were stimulated with LPS in the presence and/or absence of triclosan after which expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, β-defensins, micro-RNAs [miRNAs], or TLR-signaling pathway proteins were evaluated.


RESULTS
Here, we demonstrate that triclosan is a potent inhibitor of oral epithelial cell LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses by inducing miRNA regulation of the TLR-signaling pathway. Triclosan was not a pan-suppresser of oral epithelial cell responses as β-defensin 2 [βD2] and βD3 were upregulated by triclosan following LPS-stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate both a novel antimicrobial mechanism by which triclosan improves plaque control and an additional anti-inflammatory property, which could have beneficial effects in periodontal disease resolution.
Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
M A
MA
Wallet
N l
Nl
Calderon
T R
TR
Alonso
C S
CS
Choe
D l
Dl
Catalfamo
C J
CJ
Lalane
K G
KG
Neiva
F
F
Panagakos
S M
SM
Wallet
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014260:Triclosan / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014260:Triclosan
chemokines; cytokines; defensins; inflammation; oral epithelial cells; triclosan