Evaluation of inductive effects of different concentrations of cyclosporine A on MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in fetal and adult human gingival fibroblasts

Ulectomy in a patient with nephrotic syndrome under investigation for Galloway-Mowat syndrome: a case report

The aim of this study is to report a case in which a patient with nephrotic syndrome underwent surgery to remove fibrous gum tissue (ulectomy). An 8-year-old patient, diagnosed with early onset nephrotic syndrome due to a mutation in the NUP107 gene, had received a kidney transplant and was therefore taking various medications, including immunosuppressants. On oral examination, the patient was found to have a fibrous gingiva that was preventing the eruption of the upper permanent central incisors. A ulectomy was performed and the gingival tissue was sent for histopathological analysis, which showed normal aspects. The upper right central incisor was seen in the oral cavity 15 days after surgery. A second procedure was carried out to facilitate the eruption of the upper left incisor, which was visualized in the oral cavity 30 days later. In addition, oral manifestations such as maxillary atresia, ogival palate and mouth breathing were observed. Therefore, the role of the dental surgeon in the lives of transplanted children is considered important, as they often take various medications that can affect their oral health. Thus, early diagnosis and effective treatment will be essential to prevent future malocclusions and thus improve the quality of life of these patients.

Immunolocalization of Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and Their Inhibitors in the Hearts of Rats Treated with Immunosuppressive Drugs-An Artificial Intelligence-Based Digital Analysis

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressive agents represent a broad group of drugs, such as calcineurin inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, and glucocorticosteroids, among others. These drugs are widely used in a number of conditions, but lifelong therapy is crucial in the case of organ recipients to prevent rejection. To further increase the safety and efficacy of these agents, their off-target mechanisms of action, as well as processes underlying the pathogenesis of adverse effects, need to be thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of various combinations of cyclosporine/tacrolimus/mycophenolate with rapamycin and steroids (CRG, TRG, MRG), on the morphology and morphometry of rats' cardiomyocytes, together with the presence of cardiac collagen and the immunoexpression of MMPs and TIMPs.

METHODS

Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups receiving different immunosuppressive regiments. After six months of treatment, the hearts were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Cardiomyocytes from the CRG cohorts demonstrated the most pronounced morphological alterations. In addition, chronic immunosuppression reduced the width and length of cardiac cells. However, immunosuppressive therapy did not alter the presence of cardiac collagen fibers. Nevertheless, we observed significant alterations regarding MMP/TIMP homeostasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic immunosuppression seems to disturb the MMP/TIMP balance in aspects of immunolocalization in the hearts of rats. Further studies are required to analyze other mechanisms and pathways affected by the use of immunosuppressants.

Evaluation of the effects of e-cigarette aerosol extracts and tobacco cigarette smoke extracts on human gingival epithelial cells

Smoking increases the risk of a number of diseases, including cardiovascular, oral and lung diseases. E-cigarettes are gaining popularity among young people as an alternative to cigarettes, but there is debate over whether they are less harmful to the mouth than e-cigarettes. In this study, human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs) were treated with four commercially available e-cigarette aerosol condensates (ECAC) or commercially available generic cigarette smoke condensates (CSC) with different nicotine concentrations. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by acridine orange (AO) and Hoechst33258 staining. The levels of type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1, MMP-3), cyclooxygenase 2 and inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA and RT-PCR. Finally, ROS levels were analyzed by ROS staining. The different effects of CSC and ECAC on HGECs were compared. The results showed that higher nicotine concentration of CS significantly reduced the activity of HGECs. By contrast, all ECAC had no significant effect. The levels of matrix metalloproteinase, COX-2, and inflammatory factors were higher in HGECs treated with CSC than those treated with ECAC. In contrast, the level of type I collagen was higher in HGECs treated with ECAC than those treated with CSC. In conclusion, all four flavors of e-cigarettes were less toxic to HGE cells than tobacco, but further clinical studies are needed to determine whether e-cigarettes are less harmful to oral health than conventional cigarettes.

Evaluation of the Effects of E-Cigarette Aerosol Extracts and Tobacco Cigarette Smoke Extracts on Human Gingival Epithelial Cells

Smoking increases the risk of a number of diseases, including cardiovascular, oral, and lung diseases. E-cigarettes are gaining popularity among young people as an alternative to cigarettes, but there is debate over whether they are less harmful to the mouth than e-cigarettes. In this study, human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs) were treated with four commercially available e-cigarette aerosol condensates (ECAC) or commercially available generic cigarette smoke condensates (CSC) with different nicotine concentrations. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by acridine orange (AO) and Hoechst33258 staining. The levels of type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1, MMP-3), cyclooxygenase 2, and inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA and RT-PCR. Finally, ROS levels were analyzed by ROS staining. The different effects of CSC and ECAC on HGECs were compared. The results showed that higher nicotine concentration of CS significantly reduced the activity of HGECs. By contrast, all ECAC had no significant effect. The levels of matrix metalloproteinase, COX-2, and inflammatory factors were higher in HGECs treated with CSC than those treated with ECAC. In contrast, the level of type I collagen was higher in HGECs treated with ECAC than those treated with CSC. In conclusion, all four flavors of e-cigarettes were less toxic to HGE cells than tobacco, but further clinical studies are needed to determine whether e-cigarettes are less harmful to oral health than conventional cigarettes.

Hormesis: wound healing and fibroblasts

Hormetic dose responses are reported here to occur commonly in the dermal wound healing process, with the particular focus on cell viability, proliferation, migration and collagen deposition of human and murine fibroblasts with in vitro studies. Hormetic responses were induced by a wide range of substances, including endogenous agents, pharmaceutical preparations, plant-derived extracts including many well-known dietary supplements, as well as physical stressor agents such as low-level laser treatments. Detailed mechanistic studies have identified common signaling pathways and their cross-pathway communications that mediate the hormetic dose responses. These findings complement and extend a similar comprehensive assessment concerning the occurrence of hormetic dose responses in keratinocytes. These findings demonstrate the generality of the hormetic dose response for key wound healing endpoints, suggesting that the hormesis concept has a fundamental role in wound healing, with respect to guiding strategies for experimental evaluation as well as therapeutic applications.

Salivary Oxidative Stress Markers' Relation to Oral Diseases in Children and Adolescents

Current evidence suggests that salivary markers of oxidative stress are indicative of clinical disease indices such as the papillary bleeding index (PBI) and the caries index (CI). The aim of this study was to assess the relation of oxidative stress markers with oral dental caries and periodontal problems in a pediatric population. In our case-control study, unstimulated whole saliva was collected from individuals aged 3–18 years (n = 177); 14 individuals were excluded. Study subjects were divided into those with caries (CI = 2, n = 78) and those who were caries-free (n = 85). These groups were then divided into another subset consisting of children (mean age 7.3 years, n = 121) and adolescents (mean age 16.1 years, n = 42). The PBI was determined in all groups. We then assessed salivary levels of oxidative stress markers. Our results showed that, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level increased in patients with more gingival bleeding (p < 0.05) in the study group aged 3–18 years. In addition, TAC showed a significant decrease in samples with caries when compared to the caries-free group in adolescents (p = 0.008). In conclusion, TAC levels may be a marker of both gingival bleeding and dental caries in young adult populations. We hope that in the near future, prophylaxis, control, follow up and even possible therapeutic use of oxidative stress markers in a chairside way will become possible as antioxidants have been shown to be effective against oral diseases.