Time-Dependent Changes in Effects of Butyrate on Human Gingival Fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVES

Butyrate is one of major metabolites of periodontitis-associated bacteria and often detected in periodontal pockets. Butyrate has been considered to affect human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs); however, there was no information on its long-term effect as occurs in periodontitis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the time-dependent effects of butyrate on HGFs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The effects of butyrate on HGF proliferation, apoptosis, cell morphology, glucose metabolic activity, butyrate metabolic activity, and cell migration ability were evaluated by cell counting, DNA electrophoresis, cell staining, pH-stat system, HPLC, and scratch test, respectively.

RESULTS

HGF proliferation was temporarily inhibited by 5-10 mM butyrate (p < 0.05); however, it resumed at 24 h with morphological changes from spindle to slightly widened (p < 0.05). HGFs cultured with 10 mM butyrate for 12-24 h shifted the glucose metabolic pathway from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis (p < 0.05), and increased butyrate consumption, which returned to control levels over 24 h. HGF migration ability tended to decrease at 72 h.

CONCLUSIONS

HGF cell proliferation and glucose/butyrate metabolism were temporarily inhibited by butyrate and then recovered in a time-dependent manner, accompanied by changes in cell morphology. These time-dependent effects may help to understand the role of butyrate in the pathology of periodontitis.