Inhibition of hydroxyapatite growth by casein, a potential salivary phosphoprotein homologue

Effect of phosphoproteins on intracellular calcification of bacteria

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of phosphoproteins on bacterial mineralization. Dental calculus formation is attributed to bacterial mineralization in the oral cavity; however, the influence of phosphoproteins (which are abundant in saliva) is not clear. The model bacterium Escherichia coli was suspended in a calcification solution containing casein as a model phosphoprotein. To evaluate mineralization independent of bacterial metabolism, bacteria killed by heat treatment at 70°C were compared with viable bacteria. After incubation at 37°C for 24 h, the mode of calcification was observed using electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Solutions without casein produced precipitation in solution, which was identical to that in experiments without bacteria. In contrast, calcification solutions with 200 ppm casein only produced calcium phosphate deposition intracellularly. Without heat treatment, intracellular calcification rarely occurred, even when casein was added. Thus, phosphoproteins promoted intracellular calcification of dead bacteria; this is similar to the calcification of insoluble matrices, such as collagen fibrils, promoted by acidic polymers. We concluded that intracellular calcification is caused by the collagen fibril-like behavior of dead bacteria. The promotion of intracellular calcification of dead bacteria by phosphoproteins suggested a basic principle of dental calculus formation.

Analytical Methods for Determination of BPA Released from Dental Resin Composites and Related Materials: A Systematic Review

Knowing the impacts of bisphenol A (BPA) on human health, this systematic review aimed to gather the analytical methods for the quantification of BPA release of BPA in dental materials in in vitro and in vivo (biological fluids) studies. A brief critical discussion of the impacts of BPA on human health and the possible association with BPA in dental materials was also presented. The research was carried out by three independent researchers, (according to PRISMA guidelines) in PUBMED and SCOPUS databases, by searching for specific keywords and articles published between January 2011 and February 2022. Seventeen articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in this systematic review: 10 in vitro and 7 in vivo. In in vitro studies, the highest amounts of BPA released were from flowable to conventional resins, followed by resin-modified glass ionomer. In contrast, the smallest amount was released from "BPA-free" composites and CAD-CAM blocks. Regarding in vivo studies, a higher concentration of BPA were found in saliva than urine or blood. The best analytical method for trace quantifying BPA is LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry) due to its selectivity, low quantification limits, and the unequivocal identification. However, further studies are required to develop faster and more sensitive methods, in order to obtain more reliable results.

In vitro remineralization of enamel with a solution containing casein and fluoride

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of casein in a remineralization solution on enamel remineralization. Bovine blocks were demineralized for 21 days, then, allocated into four groups. The specimens were remineralized for 21 days in the following artificial saliva solutions: 1) 0 µg/mL casein, 0 ppm fluoride (F) (C0-F0); 2) 0 µg/mL casein, 1 ppm F (C0-F1); 3) 10 µg/mL casein, 0 ppm F (C10-F0); and 4) 10 µg/mL casein, 1 ppm F (C10-F1). Micro-CT analyses were performed once a week. Specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The present results suggest that casein by itself inhibits remineralization, whereas the coexistence of casein and F promotes the remineralization of caries bodies by interrupting mineral deposition on the enamel surface.

Effects of desensitizer containing fluoroaluminocalciumsilicate glass nanoparticles on remineralization of root dentin subsurface lesions in vitro

We investigated the remineralization effects of Nanoseal (NS) dentin desensitizer on demineralized root dentin. Baseline lesion specimens prepared from bovine root dentin were immersed in artificial saliva (AS) or deionized water (DW) after treatment with NS or fluoride-free Nanoseal (NS(-)). Treatment and control groups comprised: 1, AS; 2, NS/AS; 3, NS(-)/AS; 4,NS/DW; 5, NS(-)/DW; and 6, baseline demineralization. Integrated mineral loss (IML) and lesion depth (LD) were determined by transverse microradiography. Fluoride concentrations in the immersion solutions were measured. AS, NS/AS and NS(-)/AS showed higher mineral volume % at the surface and lesion body than did other groups. NS/AS showed significantly lower IML than did AS. There was no significant difference in IML between NS/AS and NS(-)/AS. The highest concentration of fluoride was in the NS/AS immersion solution. The findings suggest Nanoseal facilitated remineralization of demineralized root dentin, and fluoride and other ions included may have contributed to this effect.

Micellar Casein and Whey Powder Hold a TGF-β Activity and Regulate ID Genes In Vitro

Casein and whey being food supplements have been considered to be used in oral health care products. However, the response of oral cells to micellar casein and whey powder remains unclear. Considering that milk contains the growth factor TGF-β, and lactoperoxidase was recently reported to decrease the expression of inhibitor of DNA-binding (ID) proteins, there is a rationale to assume that casein and whey can also provoke these responses in oral cells. To examine the TGF-β activity, gingival fibroblasts were exposed to reconstituted casein and whey powder from food supplement before the expression of TGF-β target genes were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Immunoassays were performed for interleukin11 (IL11) in the cell culture supernatant and for TGF-β in the reconstituted casein and whey. We blocked TGF-β by neutralizing the antibody and the TGF-β receptor type I kinase with the inhibitor SB431542. We also showed smad3 phosphorylation and smad2/3 nuclear translocation by Western blot and immunostaining, respectively. Moreover, with reconstituted casein and whey powder, ID1 and ID3 expression analysis was evaluated in HSC2 human oral squamous carcinoma cells. We report here that casein and whey powder caused a robust increase of TGF-β target genes interleukin11 (IL11), NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) and proteoglycan4 (PRG4) in gingival fibroblasts that was blocked by SB431542 and the neutralizing antibody. Moreover, casein and whey powder increased the phosphorylation of smad3 and nuclear translocation of smad2/3. No changes of proliferation markers Ki67 and cyclinD1 were observed. Furthermore, reconstituted casein and whey powder decreased ID1 and ID3 expression in the HSC2 oral squamous carcinoma cells. These findings suggest that the processing of milk into casein and whey powder maintains the TGF-β activity and its capacity to regulate ID1 and ID3 genes in oral fibroblasts and oral squamous carcinoma cells, respectively. These data increase the scientific knowledge on the biological activity of casein and whey with a special emphasis on oral health.

Nucleation and growth inhibition of biological minerals by cementum attachment protein-derived peptide (CAP-pi)

Biomineralization is a highly regulated process where proteins/peptides-crystal interactions contribute to the shaping, phasing and aggregation of minerals. We have identified and synthesized a cementum attachment protein-derived peptide (CAP-pi), which corresponds to amino acids 40-53 of the N-terminal CAP domain (MASSDEDGTNGGAS) and its phosphorylated variant (MASpSpDEDGTNGGASp) (CAP-pip). The peptide is composed of polar and negatively charged amino acids, which are disordered, according to in silico analysis. Our results show that CAP-pi inhibits hydroxyapatite (HA) formation and growth. However, it possesses low capacity to inhibit calcium oxalate crystal growth. CAP-pip showed a stronger inhibitory effect on the formation and growth of HA. As well as a high capacity to inhibit calcium oxalate monohydrate growth, mainly due to adsorption on specific growth faces. Small peptides have many advantages over the full-size protein, including low-cost production and modulation characteristics that allow for structural changes. Our findings suggest that CAP-pip-derived peptide could possess therapeutic potential to prevent or treat pathological calcifications such as renal stones and vascular calcification.

Comparison of resin-based and glass ionomer sealants with regard to fluoride-release and anti-demineralization efficacy on adjacent unsealed enamel

This study compared resin-based and glass ionomer sealants with regard to their fluoride-release behavior and anti-demineralization potential on adjacent unsealed enamel surfaces. Sealant cavities prepared on bovine enamel blocks were filled with fluoride-containing resin sealants [TeethmateF-1 (TF), Clinpro^TM (CP)], and glass ionomer sealant [Fuji VII (FVII)]. Specimens were then incubated in artificial saliva for 14 days to measure fluoride. Thereafter, demineralization was performed for 10 days, and the anti-demineralization efficacy was assessed by Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-OCT), and cross-sectional nanohardness. All data were statistically analyzed by using ANOVA. FVII exhibited the highest fluoride release. SS-OCT and nanohardness findings indicated that anti-demineralization efficacy of TF was the greatest, whereas FVII was not significantly different from that of CP. Resin sealants released a lower amount of fluoride but exhibited anti-demineralization effects on the adjacent unsealed enamel surfaces that were comparable to that of a glass ionomer sealant.

In vitro dentine remineralization with a potential salivary phosphoprotein homologue

OBJECTIVE

Advantages of introducing a salivary phosphoprotein homologue under standardized in vitro conditions to simulate the mineral-stabilizing properties of saliva have been proposed. This study longitudinally investigates the effects of casein, incorporated as a potential salivary phosphoprotein homologue in artificial saliva (AS) solutions with/without fluoride (F) on in vitro dentine lesion remineralization.

DESIGN

Thin sections of bovine root dentine were demineralized and allocated randomly into 6 groups (n=18) having equivalent mineral loss (ΔZ) after transverse microradiography (TMR). The specimens were remineralized using AS solutions containing casein 0μg/ml, F 0ppm (C0-F0); casein 0μg/ml, F 1ppm (C0-F1); casein 10μg/ml, F 0ppm (C10-F0); casein 10μg/ml, F 1ppm (C10-F1); casein 100μg/ml, F 0ppm (C100-F0) or casein 100μg/ml, F 1ppm (C100-F1) for 28days with TMR taken every 7 days.

RESULTS

Surface mineral precipitation, evident in group C0-F1, was apparently inhibited in groups with casein incorporation. Repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni correction revealed higher ΔZ for non-F and non-casein groups than for their counterparts (p<0.001). Subsequent multiple comparisons showed that mineral gain was higher (p<0.001) with 10μg/ml casein than with 100μg/ml when F was present in the earlier stages of remineralization, with both groups achieving almost complete remineralization after 28 days.

CONCLUSION

Casein is a potential salivary phosphoprotein homologue that could be employed for in vitro dentine remineralization studies. Concentration related effects may be clinically significant and thus must be further examined.