In vitro assessment of cytokine modulation by choline salicylate, hyaluronic acid, lidocaine-based six different teething gels in human gingival fibroblast cells

Abstract

Teething gels are used to treat various oral mucosal conditions and inflammation. The effect of teething gels on cytokines involved in the inflammatory process is unknown. This study aimed to assess the influence of teething gels on the levels of inflammatory cytokines in human gingival fibroblasts using an in vitro assay. In this study, MTT (3-[4,5-methylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) test was used to calculate the values that provide 50% survival of the cells with different teething gels applied to human gingival fibroblast cells. Using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kits, Interleukin-1 beta, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and Interleukin-10 cytokine levels were measured in the control group and in fibroblast cells treated with each teething gel. The statistical analysis of the data was done with SPSS program. All of the teething gels caused various levels of suppression of the cytokines governing the inflammatory process (p < 0.05). Interleukin-1 beta levels were significantly lower in the hyaluronic acid group than in the lidocaine group (p < 0.05). Interleukin-8 levels were significantly lower in all teething gel groups compared with the control group (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, all of the teething gels in this study were able to suppress the cytokines that regulate the inflammatory process. Considering the cytotoxic side effects of other teething gels, it is concluded that hyaluronic acid-based teething gels have a safe and tolerable profile in the suppression of cytokines that manage the inflammation process in symptom-directed treatments.