MINERAL TRIOXIDE AGGREGATE STIMULATES A BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE IN HUMAN OSTEOBLASTS

We report a novel material that appears to stimulate cytokine producti on in human osteoblasts and allow good adherence of the cells to the m aterial. We have examined cultured osteoblasts (MG-63) in the presence of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as set in moist conditions; secon dly, we examined the behavior of these MG-63 cells with respect to cyt okine and osteocalcin production and alkaline phosphatase activity. St andard ELISA assays were used for assessment of interleukin (IL)-1 alp ha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), and osteocalcin. Furthermore the levels of alkaline phosphatase were meas ured to establish the level of differentiation of the cells. Cells wit hout MTA served as controls. Cells also were grown in the presence of polymethylmethacrylate (PMA), the commonly used orthopedic cement. In all dishes cells were seen adhering to the base and MTA at 6 h and had increased to confluence at 144 h. IL-1 alpha (175.1 +/- 32.6 pg/mL), IL-1 beta (154.0 +/- 26.7 pg/mL), and IL-6 (214.7 +/- 21.8 pg/mL) were raised when the cells were grown in the presence of MTA at 144 h, wit h raised values at all time intervals. M-CSF appeared to be unaffected although the overall value was high (7,045.0 +/- 89.5 pg/mL). In cont rast, cells grown in the absence of MTA produced negligible amounts of these cytokines (< pg/mL) as did those cells grown in the presence of PMA. Osteocalcin production increased when cells were grown on MTA fr om 3.8 +/- 0.87 ng/mL to 19.7 +/- 2.8 ng/mL. No osteocalcin could be d etected with PMA. Cells in contact with MTA also appeared to have leve ls of alkaline phosphatase similar to those reported elsewhere (4.3 +/ - 0.21 mu mol/mg protein/min). No cells could be found attached to PMA and so no alkaline phosphatase activity could be measured. (C) 1997 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.