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S Kasugai

Publications and source records attributed to S Kasugai.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

cDNA cloning of S100 calcium-binding proteins from bovine periodontal ligament and their expression in oral tissues.

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a unique tissue that is crucial for tooth function. However, little is known of the molecular mechanisms controlling PDL function. To characterize PDL cells at the molecular level, we constructed a cDNA library from bovine PDL tissue. We then focused on the isolation of S100 calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs), because they mediate Ca2+ signaling and control important cellular processes such as differentiation and metabolism. We screened the PDL cDNA library with a mouse S100A4 cDNA, and cloned the bovine cDNAs of two S100 CaBPs (S100A4 and S100A2). In northern blotting analysis, the highest expression of S100A4 was detected in PDL from erupted teeth (PDLE). PDL from teeth under eruption (PDLU) showed a lower expression of S100A4, and its expression in gingiva was faintly detectable. S100A4 expression was also high in the pulp tissue followed by the dental papilla of the tooth germ. S100A2 expression was high in PDLE and gingiva. Interestingly, only PDLE exhibited a high expression of both S100A4 and S100A2. PDLE also expressed the highest level of beta-actin, a target cytoskeletal protein for S100A4. It is conceivable that the high expression of S100A4 in PDLE is a result of the maturation of the PDL and/or a response to mechanical stress generated by mastication. Since there was a marked difference of S100A4 expression between PDL and gingiva, we propose that S100A4 could be a useful marker for distinguishing cells from these two tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Selective inhibitors of cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase: heterocycle-condensed purines.

To reverse the adverse reactions of alkylxanthines and to develop novel inhibitors of cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE IV), a series of heterocycle-condensed purines were designed and synthesized. Some of these new compounds had similar or more potent and selective inhibitory activity against PDE IV than known PDE IV inhibitors. The tracheal-relaxant activity of these compounds was closely correlated with their PDE IV-inhibitory activity. Moreover, these purine analogues did not have any positive-chronotropic action or adenosine-antagonistic action on isolated heart preparations, which are the particular adverse reactions of alkylxanthines. Among them, 3,4-dipropyl-4,5,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-imidazo[1,2-i]-purin-5-one (1c), which was the most selective and potent PDE IV inhibitor, did not cause emesis in Suncus murinus at a dosage range of 10-100 mg/kg (po), while an imidazole analogue of 1c (4c) and known PDE IV inhibitors such as rolipram and denbufylline caused emesis even at 10 or 30 mg/kg.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1997

Reduction of bone loss by denbufylline, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4.

The effects of denbufylline, a xanthine derivative with selective inhibitory activity on the phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 isoenzyme, on bone loss in Walker 256/S-bearing rats and on mineralized nodule formation and osteoclastlike cell formation in bone marrow culture systems were examined. Serial oral administrations of denbufylline inhibited the decrease in the bone mineral density of femurs from Walker 256/S-bearing rats, without influence on the healthy rats. Denbufylline restored the bone mass and the number of osteoclasts and osteoblasts per trabecular surface in the femur metaphysis. Among PDE inhibitors, only PDE4-selective inhibitors increased the number of mineralized nodules and decreased the number of osteoclastlike cells in the in vitro bone marrow culture systems, and dibutyryl cyclic AMP mimicked these effects in the in vitro systems. These results suggest that the PDE4 isoenzyme may play an important role in bone turnover through cyclic AMP and that its inhibitors are candidates for therapeutic drugs for the bone loss diseases.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1997

Temporal changes of mRNA expression of matrix proteins and parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH/PTHrP) receptor in bone development.

Expression of parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH/PTHrP) receptor is one of the osteoblastic phenotypes; however, it has not been clear whether this phenotype expression is a marker of immature or mature osteoblasts. We examined the temporal expression pattern of PTH/PTHrP receptor in bone development in vivo and in vitro compared with the expression of other osteoblastic phenotypes: osteopontin (OPN), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and mineralization. Total RNA was extracted from rat calvariae, and cell culture of rat bone marrow at different developmental stages and then Northern blot hybridization were performed. Mineralization was detected with contact microradiography (CMR) in calvaria or with Alizarin Red S staining in bone marrow cell culture. Both in calvaria and in marrow cell culture, extensive expression of OPN, BSP, type I collagen (COL I), and ALP coincided with the onset of mineralization, and OC expression was observed after mineralized tissue formation. Notably, PTH/PTHrP receptor was expressed at an early developmental stage (prenatal day 14 in calvaria, day 5 in culture) when mineralized tissue was not formed and other osteoblastic phenotypes were scarcely detected. Further study in cell culture revealed that the fold increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in response to PTH was elevated with the advance in the culture stage. These results indicate that mRNA expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor could be the early differentiation marker in osteoblastic lineage and that the levels of cAMP production in response to PTH represent the stage of osteoblastic differentiation.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of implant materials (hydroxyapatite, glass-ceramics, titanium) in rat bone marrow stromal cell culture.

Bone marrow stromal cells of femora from young adult rats produce bone-like mineralized tissue in culture. We evaluated three implant materials (hydroxyapatite (HA), glass-ceramics (GC) and commercial pure titanium (Ti)), as to their ability to provide an environment for marrow cells to differentiate into osteoblasts and function as suitable for mineralized tissue formation. We did this by measuring the DNA content, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium (Ca) content in culture, and the expression of osteopontin and bone sialoprotein by means of analysis of gene expression using Northern hybridization. DNA measurement showed no difference between each material, but ALP activity and Ca content in the culture on HA and GC were higher than on Ti and the control. An analysis of the gene expression revealed the highest expression of osteopontin and bone sialoprotein in the culture on HA. Mineralized nodule formation (both in area and number) was the most predominant on HA, followed by that on GC. These results showed that HA and GC provided a favourable situation for marrow cells to differentiate osteoblasts, resulting in a large amount of mineralized tissue formation on these surfaces. Present in vitro results could explain the rapid bone bonding of HA and GC in vivo.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1996

Toxicity of camphorated phenol and camphorated parachlorophenol in dental pulp cell culture.

The toxicity of phenol, parachlorophenol, camphorated phenol, camphorated parachlorophenol, and camphor was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay on established rat dental pulp cells (RPC-C2A). RPC-C2A cells at the confluent stage were incubated for 24 h in an experimental medium containing each compound at different concentrations. All tested drugs showed cytotoxicity in the MTT assay in a concentration-dependent manner. It is believed that camphor is a vehicle, and it reduces the toxicity of phenol and parachlorophenol. However, camphor itself showed cytotoxicity, and the addition of camphor increased the toxicity of phenol and parachlorophenol, reconfirming the cytotoxicity of these classical antiseptics.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of osteopontin expression in osteoblasts.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a prominent bone matrix protein that is synthesized by osteoblastic cells. To elucidate the function of OPN in bone we studied the regulated expression of the rat OPN protein during bone formation in vivo and in vitro. OPN mRNA is expressed by preosteoblastic cells early in bone formation, but the highest expression is observed in mature osteoblasts at sites of bone remodelling. A low-phosphorylated, 55-kDa form of OPN is produced by the preosteoblastic cells, whereas osteoblasts produce a highly phosphorylated, 44-kDa protein; the two forms of OPN corresponding to pp69 and pp62 in transformed rat cells. The synthesis of the 55-kDa OPN correlates with the formation of a 'cement' matrix that is synthesized prior to bone deposition, whereas the 44-kDa OPN synthesized by osteoblasts associates rapidly with hydroxyapatite, possibly regulating crystal growth, and may also provide a substratum for osteoclast attachment. Expression of OPN mRNA is upregulated by growth and differentiation factors (PDGF, EGF, TGF-beta and BMP-7/OP-1) and by mechanical stress, which promote bone formation, as well as by osteotropic hormones (retinoic acid and vitamin D3), which can promote bone resorption and remodelling. However, OPN mRNA is down-regulated by bisphosphonates, which abrogate bone resorption. Regulation of OPN expression is, therefore, consistent with a multiplicity of functions for OPN that involve specific structural motifs in both the synthesis and resorption of bone.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Expression of bone sialoprotein mRNA during bone formation and resorption induced by colchicine in rat tibial bone marrow cavity.

In the rat tibial bone marrow cavity, following colchicine injection, there is a phase of osteogenesis in which bone trabeculae replace the necrotic bone marrow tissues and fill the marrow cavity. The newly formed bone is subsequently resorbed by osteoclasts and normal bone marrow is restored. In this study, we correlated these morphologic events with the pattern of gene expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP), an extracellular matrix protein in mineralized tissues, to elucidate the possible functions of BSP in bone formation and resorption in vivo. The expressions of osteopontin (OPN) and type I collagen were also examined. Northern hybridization of the tibia demonstrated that OPN mRNA was gradually increased and expressed at a maximal level 10 days after colchicine injection (during the bone resorption process), while BSP mRNA expression already reached a maximal level at day 6 (during the initial process of bone formation). Its expression was, thus, quite temporary at the beginning of bone formation and different from that of type I collagen, which was continually elevated from days 6 to 10. In situ hybridization of the newly formed bone induced in the tibia revealed that BSP mRNA was evenly expressed in most osteoblasts and osteocytes, moreover in interconnecting colonies of spindle-shaped cells, possibly preosteoblasts, at day 6. At day 10, however, its expression became restricted to some cells on the bone surfaces, some osteoblasts, and most osteoclasts. These observations suggest that BSP may play an important role mainly in the initiation of bone formation and is also associated with the functions of osteoclast in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Expression of prostaglandin E receptor subtypes in bone: expression of EP2 in bone development.

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 displays physiological and pharmacological action in various tissues including bone. It increases intracellular Ca, and stimulates or inhibits cAMP production through the PGE receptor subtypes EP1, EP2, and EP3, respectively. These receptor subtypes have been recently cloned. In the present study, we investigate the expression of these receptor subtypes in bone tissue. RT-PCR revealed that EP1, EP2, and EP3 were expressed in rat calvariae and that osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1) expressed EP1 and EP2. In situ hybridization analysis using cryosection of neonatal calvariae revealed that EP2 was expressed by osteoblasts and cells not in contact with bone, probably including preosteoblasts. EP2 expression was observed at an early stage in calvarial development, at 14 days prenatal. EP2 expression was also observed at day 3 in rat bone marrow cell culture in which bone-like mineralized nodules are formed at day 8. It has been established that PGE2 response accompanying cAMP production is one of the characteristics of osteoblasts. The present results indicate that this phenotype appears at an early stage of osteoblastic differentiation and bone development.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1995

Osteoporosis-like changes in Walker carcinoma 256-bearing rats, not accompanied with hypercalcemia or parathyroid hormone-related protein production.

Walker carcinoma 256 (W256) was reported to induce hypercalcemia dependent on bone metastasis and/or parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in the rat, providing a model of the humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. In this study, after the subcutaneous inoculation of cells of the W256/S line, which is maintained in this laboratory, into young female Wistar Imamichi rats (6 weeks old), serum calcium and phosphorus levels changed only within the control range, whereas serum alkaline phosphatase activity and urinary calcium level significantly increased and urinary phosphorus decreased during the tumor growth, resulting in hypercalciuria and hypophosphaturia. W256/S did not express PTHrP-mRNA, whereas LLC-W256 cells did express it. Serum PTHrP level was not changed in W256/S-bearing rats. Osteoporosis-like changes, bone weight loss, low contents of bone calcium and phosphorus, and a decrease in the bone mineral density (BMD), were observed in the femur 14 days after the tumor inoculation. There was a pronounced decrease in the serum 17 beta-estradiol level during the tumor growth. The reduction of BMD of femurs in W256/S-bearing rats was significantly inhibited by treatment with salmon calcitonin or 17 beta-estradiol. On the basis of these results, W256/S carcinoma-bearing rats seem to be a useful model for osteoporosis of hypoovarianism.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of a system of mineralized-tissue formation by rat dental pulp cells in culture.

Pulp tissue was obtained from maxillary incisors of young adult male Wistar rats, minced and digested with 0.5% trypsin and 0.02% EGTA at 37 degrees C for 30 min. Dissociated cells were cultured with or without 10 nM dexamethasone using Eagle's minimal essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 50 micrograms/ml ascorbic acid. Confluent cells were subcultured at 7 days and the medium further supplemented with beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP). Dexamethasone in primary culture and/or secondary culture enhanced the formation of mineralized tissue while > 5 mM beta-GP was necessary for mineralization to occur. Biochemical analysis of the radiolabelled medium revealed that these cells produced type I, type I trimer and type III collagens. Analysis of [32PO4]-labelled medium, using DEAE-Sephacel ion-exchange chromatography and sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showed that these cells produced phosphophoryn-like protein. These results indicate that some of the rat dental pulp cells in culture express an odontoblast-like phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The effects of cytoskeletal inhibitors on the collagen gel contraction by dog periodontal ligament fibroblasts in vitro.

Periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PLF) were incorporated into small collagen gel discs (100 microliters, dia 10.0 mm), cultured in media containing various concentrations of cytochalasin D or colchicine and the diameters of the discs then measured. Cytochalasin D (3.1-800 nM) inhibited contraction of the gel discs in a dose-dependent manner and 800 nM of cytochalasin D completely inhibited contraction. This complete inhibition was still observed when cell density in the gel was increased. Although colchicine at a concentration of 0.98-15.7 nM also inhibited the contraction in a dose-dependent manner, contraction at 50% of the control level was still observed in the presence of a high concentration (0.25 mM, 100 micrograms/ml). These results strongly indicate that actin filaments are more intimately involved in PLF-mediated collagen gel contraction than microtubules. Although it is suggested that PLF are involved in tooth eruption, earlier studies have shown that microtubule inhibitors inhibit eruption of rat incisors whereas the microfilament inhibitor, cytochalasin B, has no effect. Thus, the PLF theory alone seems insufficient to explain the mechanism of tooth eruption.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1992

Temporal studies on the tissue compartmentalization of bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN), and SPARC protein during bone formation in vitro.

To study the role of noncollagenous proteins in bone formation, the synthesis and tissue distribution of BSP (bone sialoprotein), OPN (osteopontin) and SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) were analyzed using pulse-chase and continuous labeling protocols during bone formation by cultures of rat calvarial cells. Following a 1 h labeling period with [35S]methionine or [35SO4], radiolabeled BSP was rapidly lost from the cells and appeared transiently in the culture medium and in a 4 M GuHCl extract (G1) of the mineralized tissue. Coinciding with the loss of BSP from these compartments, radiolabeled BSP increased in demineralizing, 0.5 M EDTA extracts (E) of the bone, in a subsequent GuHCl extract (G2), and in a bacterial collagenase digest (CD fraction) of the extracted tissue, over a 24 h chase period. In comparison, the 55 kDa form of OPN, with a small amount of the 44 kDa OPN, was secreted almost entirely into the culture medium. Most of the 44 kDa OPN, together with some 55 kDa OPN, accumulated rapidly in the E extract but could not be detected in either G extract or in the CD fraction. SPARC appeared transiently in the G1 extract, but was otherwise quantitatively secreted into the culture medium from where it was lost by complexing and/or degradation. When cultures were continuously labeled over a 12 day period with [35S]methionine, radiolabeled BSP and 44 kDa OPN accumulated in the E extract together with a small amount of SPARC. Some radiolabeled BSP also accumulated in the G2 extract. From the relative incorporation of [35SO4] over the same time period, a time-dependent loss in sulphate from the BSP was evident. Using a 24 h pulse-labeling protocol, the amount of radiolabeled BSP and OPN in the E extract and the BSP in the G2 extract were not altered significantly over a 12-day chase period. These studies demonstrate that the 44 kDa OPN and most of the BSP are rapidly bound to the hydroxyapatite crystals where they may regulate crystal formation and growth during bone formation. Some BSP is deposited in the osteoid and appears to become masked by the formation of hydroxyapatite, indicating a potential role for this protein in epitactic nucleation of hydroxyapatite crystal formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Biosynthesis of bone proteins [SPP-1 (secreted phosphoprotein-1, osteopontin), BSP (bone sialoprotein) and SPARC (osteonectin)] in association with mineralized-tissue formation by fetal-rat calvarial cells in culture.

To determine the relationship between the expression of bone proteins and the formation of mineralized-tissue matrix, the biosynthesis of non-collagenous bone proteins was studied in cultures of fetal-rat calvarial cells, which form mineralized nodules of bone-like tissue in the presence of beta-glycerophosphate. The temporal pattern of protein synthesis in both mineralizing and non-mineralizing cultures was studied by metabolic labelling with [35S]methionine, 35SO4(2-) or 32PO4(3-) over a 5-day period. After a 24 h labelling period, the culture media were harvested and the cell layers extracted sequentially with aq. 0.5 M-NH3, followed by 4 M-guanidinium chloride (GdmCl), 0.5 M-EDTA and a second extraction with 4 M-GdmCl. Protein associated with collagenous bone matrix was analysed after digestion with bacterial collagenase. On the basis of [35S]methionine labelling, the major proteins extracted from the mineralizing matrix were secreted phosphoprotein-1 (SPP-1; osteopontin), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and a 14 kDa phosphoprotein. The presence of SPP-1 and BSP in the conditioned media of both mineralizing and non-mineralizing cultures and their incorporation into the mineralizing nodules indicated that these proteins associate with preformed mineral crystals. However, some BSP was also present in GdmCl extracts and, together with a 35 kDa sulphated protein, was released from a bacterial-collagenase digestion of the tissue residue in both non-mineralizing and mineralizing cultures. Two forms of sulphated SPP-1 were identified, a highly phosphorylated 44 kDa species being the predominant form in the mineralized matrix. The BSP was more highly sulphated but less phosphorylated than SPP-1. Bone SPARC (secreted protein, acid and rich in cysteine) protein (osteonectin) was present almost entirely in the conditioned media and did not incorporate 32PO4(3-) or 35SO4(2-). The SPP-1 and the 14 kDa protein were susceptible to thrombin digestion, the 44 kDa SPP-1 being specifically cleaved into 28 and 26 kDa fragments. The fragments were labelled uniformly with [35S]methionine, but the 28 kDa fragment incorporated more 35SO4(2-), but less 32PO4(3-), than the 26 kDa fragment. These studies demonstrate that SPP-1 and BSP are the major osteoblast-derived bone proteins to bind to the bone mineral. That BSP also binds to the collagenous bone matrix indicates a potential role for this protein in linking the hydroxyapatite with collagen.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Expression of bone matrix proteins associated with mineralized tissue formation by adult rat bone marrow cells in vitro: inductive effects of dexamethasone on the osteoblastic phenotype.

The nature and tissue distribution of non-collagenous bone proteins synthesized by adult rat bone marrow cells, induced to differentiate in the presence of dexamethasone (DEX) and beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP), was studied in vitro to determine the potential role of these proteins in bone formation. Northern hybridization analysis revealed a strong induction of bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin in DEX-treated cultures, whereas the constitutive expression of secreted phosphoprotein I (SPP-1), type I collagen, SPARC, and alkaline phosphatase was stimulated 6-, 5-, 3-, and 2.5-told, respectively. Metabolic labeling of proteins showed that the sialoproteins (SPP-1 and BSP) were mostly secreted into the culture medium in the non-mineralizing (-beta-GP) cultures, but were the predominant non-collagenous proteins associated with the hydroxyapatite of the bone nodules in mineralizing cultures (+ beta-GP). Extraction of the tissue matrix with 4 M GuHCl and digestion of the demineralized tissue matrix with bacterial collagenase revealed that some BSP was also associated non-covalently and covalently with the collagenous matrix. SPP-1 was present in two distinct, 44 kDa and 55 kDa, forms in the conditioned medium of all cultures and was preferentially associated with the hydroxyapatite in the mineralizing cultures. In comparison, SPARC was abundant in culture media but could not be detected in de-mineralizing extracts of the mineralized tissue. Radiolabeling with [35SO4] demonstrated that both SPP-1 and BSP synthesized by bone cells are sulfated, and that a 35 kDa protein and some proteoglycan were covalently associated with the collagenous matrix in +DEX cultures. Labeling with [32PO4] was essentially confined to the sialoproteins; the 44 kDa SPP-1 incorporating significantly more [32PO4] than the 55 kDa SPP-1 and the BSP. These studies demonstrate that BSP and osteocalcin are only expressed in differentiated osteoblasts and that most of the major non-collagenous bone proteins associate with the bone mineral. However, some novel proteins together with some of the BSP are associated with the collagenous matrix where they can influence hydroxyapatite formation.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1991

Differential regulation of the 55 and 44 kDa forms of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP-1, osteopontin) in normal and transformed rat bone cells by osteotropic hormones, growth factors and a tumor promoter.

Confluent cultures of rat bone cells synthesize several forms of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP-1, osteopontin), the major phosphorylated forms of which migrate at 55 and 44 kDa on 15% cross-linked SDS-PAGE gels and correspond to the transformation-associated proteins pp 69 and pp 62. A clonal rat calvarial cell line (RCA 11), which expressed the highest level of SPP-1, produced only the 55 kDa form of the phosphorylated protein, whereas normal rat calvarial cells enriched in osteoblastic cells (RC IV cells) produced mostly the 55 kDa form, with small amounts of the 44 kDa form. In contrast, a 44 kDa form was the major [32PO4]-labelled SPP-1 synthesized by a rat osteocarcoma cell line (ROS 17/2.8 cells) with lesser amounts of the 55 kDa SPP-1. When [35S]methionine was used to measure protein synthesis, only the 55 kDa SPP-1 could be clearly detected in confluent cultures of each cell population, indicating that the 55 kDa SPP-1 is the prominent form of SPP-1 synthesized by each cell population. Following treatment of the normal rat bone cells for 24 h with osteotropic hormones (vit D3, PTH and RA), growth factors (PDGF, EGF, TGF-beta), a tumor promoter (TPA) and a plant lectin (Con A), the 55 kDa [35S]methionine labelled SPP-1 was increased 1.7-8.3-fold. Similar, but generally lower responses were observed in the clonal RCA 11 cell line, whereas the ROS 17/2.8 cells were more refractory, showing only a strong response to vit D3. In general, vit D3 produced the strongest stimulation in all populations with TGF-beta producing a good response in the non-transformed cells and RA in the RC IV cells. In contrast, PTH was inhibitory in both RCA 11 and ROS 17/2.8 cells. In most, but not all, cases the alteration in SPP-1 synthesis reflected similar changes in SPP-1 mRNA and in the intensity of the [32PO4]-labelled 55 kDa SPP-1. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that bone cells produce several forms of SPP-1 which are differentially regulated in normal and transformed cells through both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Application of the MTT colorimetric assay to measure cytotoxic effects of phenolic compounds on established rat dental pulp cells.

The cytotoxicities of various phenolic compounds were examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay and established rat dental pulp cells (RPC-C2A). The ID50 (50% inhibition concentration) of the phenolic compounds ranged from 0.1 to 10 mmol/L, and the cytotoxicities of the phenolic compounds were related to their phenolic coefficients. The therapeutic index of each phenolic compound was calculated from the ID50 results and from the 50% inhibition concentration for prostaglandin synthesis that has been reported previously. Eugenol, guaiacol, and creosol had therapeutic indices much higher than those of other phenolic compounds examined. This experimental system could be used as a simple preliminary assay to test for toxicity of dental drugs and materials.

Animals↗