EXPRESSION OF COLLAGEN TYPE I IN INFLAMED DENTAL PULP CELLS TESTED WITH DIFFERENT CAPPING MATERIALS

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various pulp capping materials—Dycal®, Biodentine™, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) mixed with distilled water, MTA mixed with Thai propolis extract, and Thai propolis extract alone—on cell viability and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of collagen type I (COL-I) in interleukin-1β-stimulated human dental pulp cells at 24 and 72 hours. Human dental pulp cells were obtained from freshly extracted molars of three volunteers who underwent tooth extraction for orthodontic purposes or for impacted tooth removal. Cell viability was assessed using the PrestoBlue assay, and COL-I mRNA expression was quantified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Bonferroni post hoc test with a significance level of 0.05. At 24 hours, the Thai propolis group exhibited significantly higher cell viability than the non-inflamed control group (adjusted p < 0.05). At 72 hours, all materials except Dycal® showed no significant effect on cell viability (adjusted p > 0.05). COL-I mRNA expression did not differ significantly among the groups at 24 hours (p > 0.05); however, a significant increase was observed in the MTA mixed with distilled water, MTA mixed with Thai propolis extract, and Thai propolis extract groups at 72 hours (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that Thai propolis extract, either alone or used as a mixing vehicle with MTA, tends to enhance COL-I expression, which is essential for wound healing and the reduction of inflammation.

Keywords: Propolis, Mineral Trioxide Aggregate, Pulp Capping Materials, Collagen Type I