814 Cytotoxic Effects of HEMA on Gingival Epithelial Cells

Friday, March 23, 2012: 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Presentation Type: Poster Session
R.B. BOWMAN1, A. COSTA2, F. GARCIA-GODOY1, and J.P. BABU3, 1Bio Science Research, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, 2State University of Campinas, Piracicaba - SP, Brazil, 3Bio Sceince Research, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN
2-hydroxy-ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) is the major component released from resin-modified glass ionomer cements and dental adhesives. HEMA can diffuse rapidly and contributes to the toxicity to cells of the oral cavity. The primary human tissues affected in the oral cavity by HEMA are the epithelial cells. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of HEMA on epithelial cell viability and inhibition of Superoxide dismutase activity. Methods: Human gingival epithelial Smulow-Glickman (S-G) cells (1 x 105) were seeded into a 48-well culture plate in DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS. After 24 hours cells were incubated with fresh medium containing different concentrations of HEMA (0.01 to 5.0 mM). Cells were incubated for another 24 hours and then assayed for viability by MTT and Live/dead assay using bacterial BacLight, and assayed for inhibition of superoxide dismutase activity using a kit from Cell Biolabs, Inc. All assays were performed in triplicate, and each experiment was repeated at least three times for statistical evaluation. Results: Epithelial cell viability was found to be affected by HEMA in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of cells with 1 mM HEMA resulted in 40±5% loss in cell viability, which increased to 92±3% as determined by MTT and also by Live/dead BacLight assays. HEMA also inhibited the superoxide dismutase activity of epithelial cells, in a dose-dependent manner. An inhibition of 60%  and 95%was seen when cells treated with 1 mM and 5 mM HEMA, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the study demonstrated the toxic effects of HEMA on cultured epithelial cells. Evaluation of the resin-containing dental materials which releases monomers such as HEMA, and understanding its effect at the cellular level would be beneficial in maintaining the safety use of such materials.

Supported by UT college of Dentistry Alumni Foundation.


Keywords: Biomaterials, Cell culture, Dental materials, Inflammation and Polymerization