The dental monomer hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) counteracts lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-1β release-Possible role of glutathione

Methacrylate monomers, like 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), are common components of resin based dental materials. Leakage of unpolymerized monomers after placement and curing leads to human exposure. HEMA is known to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cytokine release. In this study we explore a possible role of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in this effect. In the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line, HEMA (<2mM) did not induce cell death, but reduced cellular GSH levels, increased cellular ROS and decreased the IL-1β release from LPS-stimulated cells. Moreover, the IL-1β mRNA levels were reduced after 3-6h exposure, suggesting transcriptional effects of HEMA. The GSH modulators butylsulfoximine (BSO; inhibitor of GSH synthesis) and 2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (OTC; Cysteine precursor) caused a decrease and increase in the LPS-induced IL-1β release, respectively, suggesting a role for GSH in negative regulation of LPS-induced IL-1β release. However, the magnitude and dynamics of the effects of HEMA and BSO on LPS-induced IL-1β release and GSH depletion differed considerably. Thus, GSH depletion alone could not explain the strong attenuation of LPS-induced IL-1β release caused by HEMA. Formation of HEMA-protein conjugates due to the thiol reactivity of HEMA emerges as a likely candidate for the molecular mechanism accounting for this effect.

Particulate matter-mediated release of long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in vitro: Limited importance of endotoxin and organic content

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is associated with adverse health effects, but it is still relatively unknown which role PM sources and physicochemical properties play in the observed effects. It was postulated that PM in vitro induces release of long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and that endotoxin and organic compounds present in the PM regulate this release. A contact coculture of THP-1 human leukemia monocytes and A549 human adenocarcinoma alveolar pneumocytes was exposed to PM from Traffic, Wood, Diesel, and Quartz (10-40 µg/cm²) for 12-64 h to determine release of PTX3 and VEGF. The role of endotoxin and the organic fraction in the mediator release was assessed using polymyxin B sulfate and organic extracts, respectively. Finally, antagonists were used to investigate whether the early proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α affected the PTX3 and VEGF release. All PM samples induced a time-dependent release of both PTX3 and VEGF. Traffic mediated the greatest release of PTX3, whereas Wood and Diesel were more potent inducers of VEGF. The endotoxin content did not markedly affect release of either mediator, while the organic fraction exerted no significant effect on VEGF release and limited influence on PTX3 release. In addition, the IL-1 and TNF-α agonists affected PTX3 release more strongly than VEGF release. In conclusion, the current data show a limited impact of endotoxin and organic compounds on PTX3 and VEGF release. Further, the observed differences in response patterns may point toward differential regulation of PM-mediated release of PTX3 and VEGF.