The Role of Sodium Fluoride Mouthwash in Regulating FGF-2 and TGF-β Expression in Human Gingival Fibroblasts

• Published in: Biomedicines Vol. 12; no. 8; p. 1727
• Main Authors: Kato, Nobue, Nakai, Kumiko, Tanaka, Hideki, Fukuzawa, Kyoko, Hayashi, Minii, Aoki, Mikio, Kawato, Takayuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.08.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Antibiotics; Binding proteins; Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II; Calcium signalling; Calmodulin; Collagen; Connective tissue; Connective tissues; Cytokines; Dental caries; Dentition; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; extraction sockets; FGF-2; Fibroblast growth factor 2; Fibroblast growth factors; Fibroblasts; Fluoride treatments; Fluorides; Gingiva; Growth factors; GTP-binding protein; Health aspects; Kinases; Laboratories; mouthwash; Mouthwashes; Phosphorylation; Prevention; Properties; Proteins; R&D; Research & development; Signal transduction; Sodium; Sodium fluoride; Teeth; TGF-β; Toothpaste; Transforming growth factor-b; Transforming growth factors; Wound healing; Japan; United States > US
• ISSN: 2227-9059; 2227-9059
• DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081727

Sodium fluoride (NaF) is a fluoride application recommended by the World Health Organization for its efficacy and safety in preventing dental caries. Gingival fibroblasts that constitute the majority of connective tissue cells play a major role in wound healing via the expression of growth factors, including fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). This study examined the effect of NaF mouthwash on FGF-2 and TGF-β expression in human gingival fibroblasts (HGnFs). Fibroblasts were exposed to a medium with 225 ppmF NaF for 1 min, then switched to either 15 ppmF NaF for continuous stimulation or no NaF for transient stimulation. Continuous NaF stimulation significantly increased the gene and protein expression of FGF-2 and TGF-β in HGnFs compared to controls, suggesting NaF’s potential role in modulating periodontal tissue wound healing. Signaling pathway investigations showed the involvement of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins, calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. Inhibiting CaMKII reduced NaF-induced FGF-2 and TGF-β expression, while ERK phosphorylation increased after NaF stimulation. These results highlight NaF mouthwash’s potential in promoting wound healing in extraction sockets, particularly during the mixed dentition period. Understanding NaF’s effects is clinically relevant due to the common use of fluoride products.