Effect of 4-Allyl-1-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzene (eugenol) in the expression of genes involved in cellular cycle and apoptotic process in dental pulp fibroblasts

Abstract

Objective

This study sought to evaluate the effect of eugenol on the cell morphology and expression of genes involved in the apoptotic process in human dental pulp fibroblasts (hDPFs) from deciduous teeth.

Materials and methods

hDPFs were cultured with 4 concentrations of eugenol (0.06 nM, 0.6 nM, 6 nM, 12 nM) and compared with a control group. After a 72 h incubation period, the cytotoxic effect on cell morphology by optical microscopy and gene expression by RT-PCR were evaluated.

Results

At 0.06 nM and 0.6 nM eugenol concentrations, vacuolisation of the cytoplasm was observed with atypical granulation of the hDPFs, and, at 6 nM and 12 nM cytoplasmic extensions disappeared almost completely. Casp-3, Casp-9, and telomerase genes were not expressed at the concentrations evaluated nor in the control group. The relative expression responses of Bcl-2 and TGF-β genes were overexpressed at the 4 concentrations. MAKP’s 0.06 nM (p < .001), 0.6 nM (p < .05) and 12 nM (p < .05) and Cyclin 1 at 12 nM showed significant difference versus the control group (p < .05).

Conclusion

Eugenol is capable of causing morphological changes in hDPFs in a dose-dependent manner, higher concentrations may promote overexpression of apoptotic genes.