The relationship of Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens and Prevotella melaninogenica in the supragingival plaque of children, caries and oral malodor.

PURPOSE: A relationship between the distribution of periodontal bacteria species and malodor in children has not been sufficiently investigated. The present study was undertaken to determine the presence of 3 periodontopathic bacteria (Prevotella spp. P. intermedia, P. nigrescens, P. melaninogenica) in the supragingival plaques of 3 to 16-year-old children with different oral health conditions and oral malodor. METHODS: The number of decayed and filled primary teeth (df) and Decayed, Missing and Filled permanent teeth (DMF), Papillary Marginal and Attached gingivitis (PMA) index, Oral Hygiene Index (OHI), and oral malodor of each subject were determined prior to the collection of supragingival plaques. Three periodontopathic bacteria (P. intermedia, P. nigrescens, P. melaninogenica) in supragingival plaques were detected by using an immunoslot blot assay with monoclonal antibodies specific for each microorganism. FINDINGS: The frequencies of periodontopathic bacteria in children with and without caries were not significantly different from each other. Positivity for P. intermedia, but not for P. nigrescens or P. melaninogenica was correlated with oral malodor. Oral malodor was also correlated with the debris index, a component of OHI. The group with the higher OHI showed a higher prevalence of periodontopathic bacteria. For the 3 periodontopathic bacteria in the subjects tested, plaques positive for any of them were not age related. However the frequencies of all 3 periodontopathic bacteria were the highest in the 3-6-year olds. CONCLUSION: The supragingival plaques in children can harbor 3 species of periodontopathic bacteria, P. intermedia, P. nigrescens, and P. melaninogenica.

Re-evaluation of cyclooxygenase-2-inhibiting activity of vanillin and guaiacol in macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide.

Phytophenols such as para-substituted 2-methoxyphenols exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, however, their biological activities are concentration-dependent, possibly due to their dual property of being both antioxidant and prooxidant. Eugenol (2-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) and isoeugenol (4-propenyl-2-methoxyphenol) did not reveal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-inhibiting activity in macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In contrast, vanillin (2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) and guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), especially the former, inhibited LPS-stimulated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 gene expression in cells of the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. Among the 2-methoxyphenols, vanillin demonstrated a potent anti-inflammatory activity. The phenolic O-H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) and molecular orbital energies (chemical hardness [eta], electronegativity [chi], and electrophilicity [omega]) were examined to clarify the mechanism responsible for inhibition of COX-2 expression. The BDE, chi, and omega values for vanillin were significantly higher than the corresponding values for the other 2-methoxyphenols. The anti-inflammatory activity of 2-methoxyphenols depended on the BDE and the phenol function was crucial for eliciting this activity. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activity depended on the chi and omega. These findings make vanillin attractive as a candidate therapeutic agent.

Preventive effect of ortho dimer of butylated hydroxyanisole on activator protein-1 activation and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in macrophages stimulated by fimbriae of Porphyromonas gingivalis, an oral anaerobe.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA; a mixture of 2- and 3-BHA) is widely used as a potent antioxidant, but is reported to have adverse effects, such as carcinogenesis and pro-inflammatory activity, possibly due to the pro-oxidant property of this compound. 2-Methoxyphenol dimers derived from ferulic acid were recently demonstrated to inhibit the expression of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) via redox-sensitive transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B or activator protein-1 (AP-1), due to a weakening of its pro-oxidant property by dimerization. To develop anti-inflammatory and/or anticancer drugs for the prevention of oral diseases, such as leukoplakia and destructive chronic periodontitis, whether 2-BHA (2-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol) and its synthetic ortho dimer, bis-BHA (3,3'-di-tert-butyl-5,5'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-diol) can inhibit AP-1 transcriptional activity stimulated by Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae was examined. The fimbria-stimulated AP-1 activation of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was markedly inhibited by bis-BHA. However, BHA showed slight inhibition. Furthermore, bis-BHA significantly inhibited fimbria-induced COX-2 gene expression, which is closely involved with inflammation and carcinogenesis. These findings suggest that bis-BHA may possess a potent anti-inflammatory effect against oral diseases.

The detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in tooth, tongue and buccal mucosa plaques in children, using immunoslot blot assay (IBA).

The present study was to investigate the distribution of typical periodontpathic bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) in tooth, tongue and buccal mucosa plaques in 3 to 17 Year old children. Clinical parameters (Rates of df, d, DMF, and D; plaque and gingival index) for each subject were determined prior to the collection of each site plaque. Three periodontopathic bacteria on each site samples were detected using IBA. The frequency of three bacteria for tooth plaque was higher than that for tongue or buccal mucosa plaque. The frequency of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia in supragingival plaques was significantly higher than that of corresponding ones in tongue or buccal mucosa plaques. The three bacteria also occurred more frequently in subjects aged between 10 and 14 years. Periodontopathic bacteria may be enhanced in circumpubertal children.

An ortho dimer of butylated hydroxyanisole inhibits nuclear factor kappa B activation and gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages stimulated by Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae.

Butylated hydroxyanisole, BHA, is widely used as a potent antioxidant, but its adverse effects such as carcinogenesis and proinflammatory activity have been reported, which are possibly due to the prooxidant property of this compound. We recently demonstrated that the dimer of 2-methoxyphenols exhibits cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition, because of lessening of its prooxidant property caused by the dimerization. In the present study, toward our goal of developing a chemopreventive agent for chronic periodontal diseases, we examined whether 2-BHA (2-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol) and its synthetic ortho dimer, bis-BHA (3,3'-di-tert-butyl-5,5'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-diol) could inhibit the Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbria-stimulated inflammatory reaction. The fimbria-induced expression of interleukin-1beta and neutrophil chemoattractant KC genes in RAW264.7 murine macrophages was strongly inhibited by bis-BHA. In contrast, 2-BHA showed only slight inhibition. bis-BHA also significantly inhibited the fimbria-stimulated phosphorylation-dependent degradation of the alpha inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB and the transcriptional activity of this factor in the cells. These findings suggest that bis-BHA possesses anti-inflammatory activity against chronic periodontal diseases.

Induction of cytotoxicity and apoptosis and inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression by eugenol-related compounds.

Induction of cytotoxicity and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation by 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol (eugenol, EUG), 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP), 3,3'-dimethoxy-5,5'-di-2-propenyl-1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-diol (bis-EUG) and 3,3'-di-methoxy-5,5'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-diol (bis-MMP) were investigated in HL-60 leukemia cells. The 50% cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) for EUG, MMP, bis-EUG and bis-MMP were 0.38 mM, 0.38 mM, 0.18 mM and 0.20 mM, respectively. DNA fragmentation was induced most strongly by bis-EUG, followed by EUG, MMP and bis-MMP. The expression of MnSOD and, less strongly, Cu/ZnSOD activity, as assessed by acrylamide gel electrophoresis, was inhibited by EUG, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. The expression of the mRNAs for MnSOD and Cu/ZnSOD in HL-60 cells, as assessed by RT-PCR, was significantly inhibited by treatment with 1 mM EUG for 1 hour. Furthermore, inhibition of SOD mRNAs expression by EUG was strongly potentiated by the addition of 5 mM N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or glutathione (GSH), whereas NAC or GSH alone did not affect the expression of SOD mRNAs. The cytotoxicity of EUG was significantly enhanced by high concentrations of NAC or GSH, which may be attributed to the inhibition of SOD mRNAs expression by the synergistic action of EUG and GSH or NAC. The regulatory effects of eugenol-related compounds on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression in RAW 264.7 cells were investigated by Northern blot analysis. Bis-EUG, MMP and bis-MMP inhibited COX-2 gene expression at concentrations of 300 microM, 500 microM and 500 microM, respectively. In contrast, no inhibitory effect of EUG was found over the wide concentration range of 10-500 microM, possibly as a result of the extensive mitochondrial dysfunction induced by this compound, which possesses potent pro-oxidative activity. Eugenol-related compounds, particularly bis-EUG, may act as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-like compounds.

Kinetics of radical-scavenging activity of hesperetin and hesperidin and their inhibitory activity on COX-2 expression.

The radical-scavenging activities of the flavanones hesperetin and hesperidin were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) monitoring of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN, an R* radical) or benzoylperoxide (BPO, a PhCOO* radical) at 70 degrees C under nearly anaerobic conditions. Their stoichiometric factor (number of free radicals trapped by one mole of antioxidant moiety (n)) and the ratio of the rate constant of inhibition to that of propagation (k(inh)/k(p)) were determined and compared with that for trolox The n value declined in the order trolox (2.0) > hesperetin (0.8) > hesperidin (0.2) in the AIBN system, whereas it declined in the order hesperetin (0.9) > trolox (0.1) > hesperidin (0.0) in the BPO system. The k(inh)/k(p) value declined in the order hesperidin (195) > hesperetin (33) > trolox (12) in the AIBN system, whereas it declined in the order hesperidin (362) > trolox (127) > hesperetin (18) in the BPO system. The n value of about 1 for hesperetin with a relatively small k(inh)/k(p) value suggests the formation of dimers, as a result of the coupling reaction of phenolic monomers. In contrast, n values << 1 for hesperidin and trolox in the BPO system resulted in very high values for k(inh)/k(p). Hesperidin was also much more able to suppress the growth of methyl methacrylate radicals, although its n value was small, suggesting that this compound may also suppress polyunsaturated fatty acid radicals. In the concentration range 250-500 microM, hesperetin and hesperidin showed potent inhibition of LPS-induced expression of the COX-2 gene in RAW 264.7 cells, suggesting the anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds. The ability of hesperetin and hesperidin to suppress COX-2 gene expression may be a consequence of their antioxidant activity.

Ferulic acid dimer inhibits lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expression in macrophages.

Phenylpropanoids may act as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-like compounds. 4-cis, 8-cis-Bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3, 7-dioxabicyclo-[3.3.0]octane-2,6-dione (bis-FA, compound 2), a dimer of ferulic acid, was synthesized from ferulic acid (1), and its effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in RAW 264.7 cells was compared with those of the parent ferulic acid (1) and of iso-ferulic acid (3-hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid) (3). LPS-induced gene expression of COX-2 was markedly inhibited by compound 2 at a concentration of 10 microM and by compound 3 at 100 microM, but was not inhibited by compound 1 at 100 microM. This observation suggests that compound 2 may possess potent anti-inflammatory activity. These ferulic acid-related compounds were able to scavenge the stable 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The 50% inhibitory concentration for DPPH radicals declined in the order 3 (40.20 mM) > 2 (3.16 mM) > 1 (0.145 mM). Compound 1 possessed potent anti-radical activity, but no COX-2 inhibitory activity, which may be a result of enhancement of its conjugate properties by abstraction of an H atom from the phenolic OH group, causing loss of phenolic function. In contrast, inhibition of COX-2 expression by compounds 2 and 3 could be caused by their increased phenolic function, which is associated with decreased anti-radical activity. Compounds 2 and 3, particularly 2, may have potential as NSAID-like compounds.

Interleukin-6 negatively regulates Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbria-stimulated fibronectin expression in human gingival fibroblasts.

Our previous study demonstrated that fibronectin (FN) is a negative regulator of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbria-induced pathogenesis in the initiation and development of chronic periodontal diseases. We show herein the regulatory action of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on FN expression in fimbria-treated human gingival fibroblasts. Interestingly, the decrease in FN expression in the cells treated with fimbriae at a high dose (8 microg of protein ml(-1)) was negated by treatment with anti-IL-6 antibody. Also, the increase in FN expression in cells treated with fimbriae at a low dose (1 microg of protein ml(-1)) was inhibited by exogenous IL-6. These results suggest that P. gingivalis fimbria-stimulated FN expression in human gingival fibroblasts is negatively regulated by endogenous IL-6.

Dehydrodiisoeugenol, an isoeugenol dimer, inhibits lipopolysaccharide-stimulated nuclear factor kappa B activation and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in macrophages.

o-Methoxyphenols such as eugenol and isoeugenol exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, but at higher concentrations act as oxidants and potent allergens. We recently demonstrated the eugenol dimer bis-eugenol to be an efficient inhibitor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokine expression in macrophages without cytotoxicity. This result suggested that dimer compound of o-methoxyphenols may possess anti-inflammatory activity. Thus, we further synthesized dehydrodiisoeugenol and alpha-diisoeugenol from isoeugenols, and investigated whether these dimers could inhibit LPS-stimulated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 gene expression, both of which are closely involved in inflammation and mutagenesis. The expression of the COX-2 gene was strongly inhibited by dehydrodiisoeugenol in RAW264.7 murine macrophages stimulated with LPS. In contrast, isoeugenol and alpha-diisoeugenol did not inhibit it. Dehydrodiisoeugenol also significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated phosphorylation-dependent proteolysis of inhibitor kappaB-alpha and transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB in the cells. These findings suggest that dehydrodiisoeugenol acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

Preventive effect of bis-eugenol, a eugenol ortho dimer, on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated nuclear factor kappa B activation and inflammatory cytokine expression in macrophages.

Eugenol exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, but at higher concentrations acts as an oxidant and potent allergen. It was earlier shown that bis-eugenol synthesized by the oxidation of eugenol was less cytotoxic and more highly antioxidative than eugenol. But its anti-inflammatory mechanism remains yet unclear. Since nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is a key transcriptional factor in the expression of inflammatory cytokines, we examined whether eugenol and bis-eugenol are inhibitors of NF-kappa B activation. We observed that bis-eugenol, but not eugenol, clearly inhibited the degradation of inhibitory kappa B-alpha in RAW264.7 murine macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and, consequently, the transcriptional activity of the stimulated NF-kappa B in the cells. In addition, bis-eugenol actually inhibited LPS-stimulated expression of inflammatory cytokines at both gene and protein levels. These findings suggest that bis-eugenol acts as a potent inhibitor of NF-kappa B.

Frequency of reactivity for Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella spp. in supra- and subgingival plaques, and periodontal clinical parameters according to subject age.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to assess the association between selected clinical parameters and the distribution of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Prevotella nigrescens (Pn), and Prevotella melaninogenica (Pm) in supra- and subgingival plaque samples measured by an immunoslot blot assay (IBA) using their monoclonal antibodies. METHODS: Plaque samples from 299 patients aged 6 to 69 randomly chosen from a group of dental outpatients were examined. Plaque index, gingival index, and probing depths were evaluated according to the criteria of positive (cell number > or = 10(6)) or negative (<106) reactivity to the 4 different monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: An increase in probing depth in subjects exhibiting either a positive or negative reaction for the 4 test bacteria was associated with increasing age. Comparing bacteria-positive subgingival plaque samples to their corresponding bacteria-negative counterparts, we found an increased plaque index in children positive for any of the 4 bacteria; in addition, that for Pg and Pi was increased in subjects 40 to 49 years old. The gingival index increased with increasing amount of Pi and Pn, but not with Pg and Pm in those 20 to 29 years of age. The frequency of Pg reactivity in subgingival plaque was markedly enhanced in subjects older than 30 to 39 years of age, and was significantly higher than that in supragingival plaque. The frequency of Pi and Pn reactivity was significantly increased in adults aged 20 to 29 and plateaued at older ages. The frequency of Pm reactivity was relatively low and independent of subject age. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in probing depth with increasing age was not affected by the occurrence of periodontopathic bacteria. The high rate of occurrence of Pg, together with Pi and Pn, in subgingival plaque of the adult age groups was suggested to be associated with the high frequency of periodontal disease in the older age groups (above 30 to 49 years of age). The IBA appears to be useful for the efficient and rapid detection of periodontopathic bacteria.