Effect of dentin bonding agents on the secretion of inflammatory mediatorsfrom macrophages

Dentin bonding agents (DBAs) have been proposed as substitutes for amalgam as root-end filling materials. The current study tested the hypothesis that certain components of DBAs could alter the secretion of cytokines from mac rophages. Such alteration would likely be undesirable for healing of the pe riapical tissues. Human THP-1 macrophages were exposed to 2-hydroxyethyl me thacrylate, 4-methacryloxyethyl trimelliate anhydride, bisphenol-gycidylmet hacrylate, and urethane dimethacrylate. The secretion of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured with or without challenge by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results showed that all DBA components completely suppressed LPS-induced IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha se cretion at concentrations that suppressed mitochondrial activity by 50%. In addition, 4-methacryloxyethyl trimelliate anhydride induced secretion of I L-1 beta, but not TNF-alpha, without the LPS challenge. These results indic ate that DBA components may alter normal macrophage-directed inflammatory r esponses if the macrophages are exposed to sufficiently high concentrations of these components.