title: NF-kB mediated down-regulation of collagen synthesis upon HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) treatment of primary human gingival fibroblast/Streptococcus mutans co-cultured cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In vitro studies have evidenced the cytotoxic effect of HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), the most common component of dental resin-based restorative material, which is released within the oral cavity, on eukaryotic cells such as gingival fibroblast and epithelial cells. However, since the presence of microorganisms within the oral cavity cannot be excluded and little is known about the interactions occurring between eukaryotic cells and the human oral microbiota, our attention has been addressed to investigate the effect of 3 mM HEMA on the molecular mechanisms driving the response of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) co-cultured with Streptococcus mutans.
  
  
  METHODS
  HGF/S. mutans co-culture has been set up in our lab, and upon HEMA treatment, S.mutans and HGF cells' viability and adhesion along with type I collagen gene and pro-collagen I, Bax, Bcl2, nuclear factor kB (NF-kB), IkBα, pIkBα protein expression by PCR, Western blotting and ELISA assays have been investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HEMA treatment determines a significant decrease of type I collagen protein production, even in the presence of S. mutans, in parallel to a decrease of cell viability and adhesion, which seem to be regulated by NF-kB activation. In fact, when SN50, NF-kB-specific pharmacological inhibitor, is added to the culture, cell proliferation along with collagen synthesis is restored.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modulation exerted by S. mutans on the cytotoxic effect of HEMA suggests that within the oral cavity, the eukaryotic/prokaryotic cell interactions, maintaining the balance of the environment, allow HEMA to perform its adhesive and bonding function and that the use of a co-culture system, which simulates the oral cavity organization, improves the knowledge concerning the biocompatibility of this dental material.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università G. d'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pacella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Giulio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapino
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Valerio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cellini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cataldi
mesh_terms: D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008689:Methacrylates; D016328:NF-kappa B; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate; D003094:Collagen