The effect of fluocinolone acetonide, ProRoot MTA and their combination on inflammation and odontogenic differentiation of inflamed human dental pulp cells.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effect of fluocinolone acetonide (FA), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), and their combination on inflamed human dental pulp cells (HDPCs), focusing on cell viability, expression of inflammation and mineralisation-associated genes, and odontogenic differentiation.

METHODS

HDPCs were treated with 20 µg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or in combination with and 400 µM hydrogen peroxide (HO) for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h to induce inflammatory conditions. Normal and inflamed HDPCs were further treated with FA, MTA extraction medium, or a combination of MTA and FA. Cell viability was assessed using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression of inflammatory and mineralisation-associated genes was evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Odontogenic differentiation was determined by alkaline phosphatase staining (ALP) and alizarin red S staining (ARS).

RESULTS

HDPCs pretreated with LPS and HO had reduced cell viability, increased expression of IL-1β and IL-6, decreased expression of ALP and DSPP, and reduced odontogenic differentiation. Treatment with FA alone or in combination with MTA improved these parameters, except for odontogenic differentiation, which was enhanced only in the FA-treated group.

CONCLUSION

FA exerted anti-inflammatory properties and promoted odontogenic differentiation under the inflammatory milieus of HDPCs in this in vitro study.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Under the simulated inflammatory condition of HDPCs, this in vitro study suggests the potential benefit of FA for anti-inflammatory and mineralisation enhancing properties.