HEMA down-regulates procollagen alpha1 type I in human gingival fibroblasts.

2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) can be released from restorative materials and diffused into the tooth pulp over long periods of time. Although cytotoxicity due to high concentrations of monomers has been well studied, little is known about the risk of chronic toxicity resulting from low concentrations. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of a minor toxic concentration of HEMA in the synthesis and expression of procollagen alpha1 type I produced by human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). HGF were exposed to 3 mM HEMA from 24 to 96 h. An MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell viability while reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), and Western-blot analysis were carried out to evaluate the variability in the expression and synthesis of procollagen alpha1. Immunofluorescence was performed to detect the protein inside the cells. The results showed that there was a strong reduction of procollagen alpha 1 type I expression at 72 and 96 h. These findings demonstrate that, even if it does not reduce cell viability, 3 mM HEMA interferes both with the synthesis of the procollagen alpha 1 type I protein and its mRNA expression, suggesting that normal cell production and activity are modified by HEMA at concentrations below those which cause acute cytotoxicity.