Previous studies have documented a marked cytotoxic potency of BisGMA and TEGDMA. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if these substances also affect proliferation, migration, and tenascin expression of primary human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT). These parameters play an important role in healing wounds. HGF and HaCaT cultures were incubated with TEGDMA and BisGMA. Cell proliferation (BrdU-assay) and migration (Boyden method) were determined 24 h after incubation. Tenascin expression was investigated four and seven days after treatment. Results were statistically evaluated by ANOVA using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05). Proliferation of both cell types was significantly inhibited at concentrations > or = 0.25 mM (TEGDMA) or > or = 0.01 mM (BisGMA). Migration of HaCaT was significantly increased after incubation with BisGMA for 24 h. TEGDMA did not alter migration of HGF and HaCaT. In addition, TEGDMA had no effect on tenascin expression of both cell cultures. After 4 days of incubation, BisGMA (at a concentration of 0.01 mM) significantly reduced tenascin production of HaCaT cultures related to cell number. However, 7 days after treatment, BisGMA significantly increased tenascin expression of HGF and HaCaT cultures. Altogether, our results indicate that BisGMA can affect migration of keratinocytes and alters the expression of the extracellular matrix component tenascin. Thus, BisGMA may significantly influence the healing of injured oral tissues.
Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.