Saliva improves Streptococcus mitis protective effect on human gingival fibroblasts in presence of 2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2013 Aug;24(8):1977-83. doi: 10.1007/s10856-013-4949-7. Epub 2013 May 14.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of saliva on Streptococcus mitis free cells and on S. mitis/human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) co-culture model, in presence of 2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (HEMA). The bacterial aggregation both in the planktonic phase and on HGFs, as well as the apoptotic and necrotic eukaryotic cells amount were analyzed, in presence of saliva and/or HEMA. The aggregation test revealed a significant saliva aggregation effect on S. mitis strains compared to the untreated sample. No significant differences were recorded in the amount of culturable bacteria in all studied conditions; however, from microscopy images, the saliva/HEMA combining effect induced a significant bacterial aggregation and adhesion on HGFs. HEMA treatment decreased viable eukaryotic cell number with a parallel increment of necrotic cells, but when saliva was added to the co-culture, the viable cells percentage increased to a value comparable to the control sample.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Bacterial Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / microbiology*
  • Gingiva / cytology
  • Gingiva / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Methacrylates / pharmacology*
  • Saliva / physiology*
  • Streptococcus mitis / drug effects*
  • Streptococcus mitis / physiology

Substances

  • Methacrylates
  • hydroxyethyl methacrylate