Anti-inflammatory effects of olanexidine gluconate on oral epithelial cells

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition triggered by microbial biofilm formation in the periodontal pocket, which induces periodontal tissue destruction and leads to tooth loss [1]. The inflammatory response in periodontitis is initiated by the innate immune response and progresses by the acquired and innate immune responses. Both immune responses are regulated by many factors, including chemokines that are involved in the migration of phagocytic cells to the site of infection. Therefore, to prevent and treat periodontitis, biofilm formation and the inflammatory response to chemokines must be reduced.

The innate immune response is initiated by toll-like receptors (TLRs) when biofilm-forming bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis infect the periodontal tissue [2, 3]. TLRs recognize various bacterial products called pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), including lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Both in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that TLRs are expressed in the human gingival epithelium [4‐7]. TLRs, which are highly expressed in the epithelial cells of the periodontal pocket tissue, were reported to recognize PAMPs of P. gingivalis and participate in the signaling pathway that induces the production of chemokines, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) [4, 5].

IL-8 is produced during the initial steps of the inflammatory response and plays a crucial role in the recruitment and activation of neutrophils, which are major contributors to tissue damage during inflammatory diseases [8‐10]. In recent years, growth-related oncogene protein-α (GRO-α) has been recognized for its chemotactic activity on neutrophils [11]. In a three-dimensional co-culture model of gingival epithelial cells, the expression levels of GRO-α were elevated in response to increasing inflammatory reactions [12]. Apart from the innate responses, the acquired immune response involving the invasion of T-cells and B-cells is also known to be involved in periodontitis.

The role of T helper type 17 (Th17) cells in the acquired immune response was recently reported, and their presence in periodontal tissue was confirmed [13]. The chemokine C-C motif ligand 20 (CCL20) is known to regulate Th17 cell migration and infiltration [14] and its expression, particularly in the basal layer of inflamed gingival epithelial cells, has been previously reported [15]. Therefore, the inhibition of chemokines appears to be essential in the treatment and prevention of periodontitis.

Olanedine_® antiseptic solution 1.5% (Olanedine, Fig. 1) was launched in 2015 as an antiseptic for preoperative skin preparation. It contains olanexidine gluconate (OLG) [1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-5-octylbiguanide gluconate] as an active ingredient. Olanedine is more effective bactericide than existing antiseptics in sites contaminated with blood [16] and acts against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including some that are drug-resistant [17, 18]. Besides, Olanedine has fast-acting and long-lasting bactericidal effects [16]. Based on these characteristics, OLG is considered an effective chemical plaque control agent in oral hygiene management.

In a previous study, we observed that 0.1% OLG inhibited the adherence of Streptococcus mutans on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (HA) pellets. The results suggested that OLG covered the surface and reduced the hydrophobic interactions between S. mutans and saliva-coated HA-pellets, which form the salivary pellicle (unpublished). Since OLG can coat the surface and has a high binding affinity for LPS [17], we hypothesized that 0.1% OLG could inhibit the inflammatory response induced by bacteria or LPS stimulation, including the production of IL-8, GRO-α, and CCL20, in the oral mucosal epithelium. These anti-inflammatory effects might be valuable in preventing and treating periodontitis. Therefore, in this study, we examined if OLG inhibited the inflammatory reactions caused by P. gingivalis LPS or heat-killed P. gingivalis using immortalized human oral keratinocytes (RT7).

We examined the cytotoxic effects of OLG on RT7 and whether OLG inhibited the inflammatory responses stimulated by P. gingivalis LPS or heat-killed P. gingivalis. Microscopic observation of cell morphology and the LDH cytotoxicity assay showed that up to 50 μg/mL of OLG (1 min at RT) were non-cytotoxic. Inconsistencies among the results of morphological analysis and LDH cytotoxicity analysis at 1000 μg/mL OLG could be due to the mode of action of OLG, which causes protein denaturation as is common in other antiseptics.

Recent research indicated that OLG disrupts bacterial membrane integrity and denatures proteins at relatively high concentrations (≥160 μg/mL) [17]. High concentrations of OLG could aggregate RT7 cells by protein denaturation, which prevents the release of LDH. Therefore, the amount of LDH released at 500 and 1000 μg/mL of OLG would be less than that released at 250 μg/mL or lower concentrations. To validate this, we confirmed that the released LDH was detected in the discarded medium after 1 min treatment of OLG (data not shown). When we analyzed the effects of long-term exposure (8–24 h at RT) to OLG, we detected cytotoxicity at lower concentrations (≥5 μg/mL). However, the results of this study suggest that a short exposure period of approximately 1 min is sufficient for the antiseptic to have an adequate effect, and therefore it would not be necessary to use it in conditions that would cause cytotoxicity.

Concerning the inflammatory responses, it was reported that oral and gingival epithelial cells stimulated with P. gingivalis LPS or heat-killed P. gingivalis had an increased mRNA expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-8 [20‐22]. In this study, the measurement of inflammatory chemokine levels showed that OLG at 10 and 50 μg/mL significantly inhibited the production of IL-8, CCL20, and GRO-α in RT7 cells stimulated with P. gingivalis LPS or heat-killed P. gingivalis. We performed the same experiment using Escherichia coli LPS (ultrapure LPS, E. coli 0111:B4, InvivoGen, San Diego, CA, US) to determine whether the anti-inflammatory effects of OLG were P. gingivalis LPS-specific. Results for E. coli LPS were the same as for P. gingivalis LPS; 10 and 50 μg/mL OLG significantly inhibited the production of IL-8, CCL20, and GRO-α in E. coli LPS-stimulated RT7 cells (Fig. 8). Considering past report [17], our results suggest that OLG inhibits LPS-induced inflammation in RT7 cells regardless of the bacterial species. In some experiments, the statistical data show minimal differences between untreated samples and those treated with OLG, even in cases of non-stimulation with P. gingivalis LPS or heat-killed P. gingivalis. However, we considered that there are no physiological differences based on the initial low expression levels of the different chemokines.

Chlorhexidine, one of the most effective antiseptics, was also reported to inhibit the inflammatory chemokine IL-8 at both mRNA and protein levels in oral epithelial cells. This effect conforms to the mechanism of action of chlorhexidine, which shows an immediate bactericidal activity, combined with prolonged bacteriostatic action, due to absorption on the active surface [23, 24]. Further experiments such as the analysis of the mRNA expression of TLR2 or 4 are needed to understand the mechanism underlying OLG anti-inflammatory action entirely. However, the results of this study and previous studies suggest that OLG exhibits inhibitory effects on the oral inflammatory response to LPS from P. gingivalis, a major pathogen causing periodontitis, by forming a protective layer over the gingival epithelial cells and through its bactericidal activity.

To fully understand the effects of utilizing 0.1% OLG in the clinical practice, we would need to perform in vivo studies. However, since chlorhexidine has been approved for the management of gingivitis, the use of 0.1% OLG as a new chemical plaque-control agent for oral hygiene management to prevent oral infections, including dental caries and periodontal diseases, should be expected in the future.

OLG treatment inhibited the production of chemokines IL-8, CCL20, and GRO-α in oral epithelial cells stimulated with P. gingivalis LPS or heat-killed P. gingivalis in vitro.