Elsevier

Journal of Endodontics

Volume 40, Issue 3, March 2014, Pages 399-405
Journal of Endodontics

Basic Research
Regenerative Capacity of Human Dental Pulp and Apical Papilla Cells after Treatment with a 3-Antibiotic Mixture

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2013.09.027Get rights and content

Abstract

Introduction

A 3-antibiotic combination (3Mix) has been widely used in regenerative endodontics. Recent studies recommend that a safe concentration of 3Mix is in the range of 0.39 μg/mL and 1 mg/mL because higher concentrations may limit tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to determine the regenerative capacity of isolated human dental pulp cells (DPCs) and apical papilla cells (APCs) after a 7-day treatment with selected doses of 3Mix.

Methods

Primary human DPCs/APCs from the third passage were divided into control and experimental groups. In the control group, cells were cultured in regular complete media. In the experimental group, cells were cultured in complete media containing 0.39 μg/mL or 1 mg/mL of 3Mix for 7 days. After the treatment period, the media were changed, and the cells were further tested for proliferation and differentiation potential. For cell proliferation, a colorimetric qualification of 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide was used on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. For differentiation potential, a dentinogenic differentiation medium was added into treated cells and cultured for 7, 14, and 21 days. Results were analyzed using quantitative alizarin red S staining and real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results

After 7 days of treatment, 100% cell death was discovered in the 1-mg/mL 3Mix group. The proliferative capacity of 0.39 μg/mL 3Mix-treated DPCs and APCs was significantly lower than that of untreated cells at all time points (P < .05). Mineralized nodule formation was found both in the 3Mix-treated and control groups, but it was significantly less in the 3Mix-treated groups at 7, 14, and 21 days (P < .01). Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction showed no statistically significant difference (95% confidence interval) in bone sialoprotein, alkaline phosphatase, and dentin matrix protein 1 gene expression in either 3Mix-treated DPCs or APCs compared with control groups.

Conclusions

One milligram per milliliter of 3Mix had strong toxicity to DPCs/APCs when applied for 7 days, whereas 0.39 μg/mL 3Mix showed no toxicity but still affected cell proliferation and mineralization potential. However, no differences in dentinogenic gene expressions were observed between the 3Mix-treated and untreated groups.

Section snippets

Patient Recruitment

This study was approved by the Human Experimentation Committee of the Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. After verbal and written informed consent, nonpathologic impacted third molars with/without immature roots from healthy patients (aged 18–25 years) were extracted. The teeth were rinsed using sterile normal saline solution and stored on ice in separate containers with serum-free media.

Culture of Primary Human DPCs and APCs

To obtain pulp tissue, teeth were soaked and inverted in 5.25% sodium

Proliferative Capacity of 3Mix-treated and Untreated DPCs/APCs

No DPCs/APCs from experimental group A (1 mg/mL 3Mix treatment for 7 days before assessment) survived after the treatment period. Cell morphology had changed on the fourth day of 3Mix treatment, and the cells dissolved afterward.

There were significant differences (P < .05) in the proliferative capacity of DPCs at all time points in group B (0.39 μg/mL 3Mix treatment for 7 days before assessment) compared with the control group. To clarify the ratio of cell proliferation capacity, the

Discussion

The consequences of DPCs and APCs after exposure to 3Mix at 1 mg/mL and 0.39 μg/mL for 7 days were evaluated. The total cell death occurred when 1 mg/mL of 3Mix, an LC50 dose (14), was used to culture both cell types for 7 days. The proliferation assay revealed that 0.39 μg/mL of 3Mix-treated cells had a significantly lower proliferation rate than untreated cells. Mineralized matrix formation was observed in both groups, but it was lower in the 3Mix-treated groups than in the control groups.

Conclusions

After treatment with 3Mix, even at a very low concentration, it still had effects on the proliferative capacity and mineralized matrix formation of DPCs and APCs in vitro. Alternative regimens for regenerative endodontics, including other influencing factors, still need to be clarified to promote appropriate pathways for dental tissue regeneration.

Acknowledgments

The authors deny any conflicts of interest related to this study.

References (35)

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