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We have previously reported that sodium fluoride (NaF) showed slightly higher cytotoxicity against human oral tumor cell lines than normal human oral cells. Possible changes in the NaF sensitivity of three normal human oral cell types (gingival fibroblast HGF, pulp cell HPC, periodontal ligament fibroblast HPLF) during in vitro ageing were investigated in the present study. When these cells were subcultured at 1:4 split ratio every week, their saturation density declined with increasing population doubling level (PDL), and they ceased to divide when they reached 20 PDL. Mitochondrial function, evaluated by MTT stainability per cell basis, was elevated at the terminal phase. NaF dose-dependently reduced the viable cell number, but did not show any beneficial (growth promoting) effect (so-called "hormesis") at lower concentrations. NaF produced large DNA fragments, without induction of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, possibly due to weak activation of caspases -3, -8 and -9. Higher concentrations of NaF were required to reduce the number of viable senescent cells than younger cells, indicating that cells become resistant to cytotoxicity of NaF with in vitro ageing.

A series of simple alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (1-26) was characterized for their cytotoxic profiles against oral human normal and tumor cells. Several cycloalkenones showed potent cytotoxic activities against human oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC-2 cell line. Among them, 4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one (12) exhibited low cytotoxic activity against a normal human cell, gingival fibroblast HGF, and displayed higher tumor-specific cytotoxicity (SI value = CC50 (HGF)/CC50 (HSC-2) = 4.0). The cytotoxicities of the unsaturated lactones were moderately tumor-specific (SI = 1.5-1.9). Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that the induction of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in human promyelocytic leukemia cell HL-60 is dependent on the structure of alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Fluorometric protease assay showed that some, but not all compounds, activated the caspase 3 in a dose-dependent manner. All alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds studied did not activate caspases 8 and 9. The cytotoxic activity of alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds was profoundly reduced in the presence of N-acetylcysteine. The study suggests that the presence of a non sterically hindered Michael acceptor seems to be an essential structural requirement for the cytotoxic activity in alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones.

Hydroxyketone chelators, deferiprone (HK1), maltol (HK3) and their related compounds (HK2, 4-8), were characterized for their cytotoxic profiles against oral human normal and tumor cells. Most hydroxyketones except HK6 showed relatively higher tumor-specific cytotoxicity. Deferiprone (HK1), which showed the highest tumor specificity, had 10 times higher cytotoxicity than maltol (HK3) in both human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 and human oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC-2 cell lines. The cytotoxic activity of HK1 against HL-60 and HSC-2 cells was reduced in the presence of FeCl3, while that of HK3 was significantly increased by FeCl3. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that HK1 induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells, but the addition of FeCl3 inhibited the DNA fragmentation. HK3 did not induce DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells, regardless of the presence or absence of FeCl3. In HSC-2 cells, HK1 and 3 did not induce DNA fragmentation in the presence or absence of FeCl3. Colorimetric protease assay showed that HK1 activated the caspase 3, 8 and 9 in HL-60 cells. On the other hand, HK3 did not activate the caspase 3, 8 and 9 in HL-60 cells, but activated the caspase 3 only slightly in the presence of FeCl3. HK1 and 3 also activated the caspase 3, 8 and 9 in HSC-2 cells, but to a lesser extent. The present study suggested that the antitumor activity of hydroxyketones may be modified by Fe3+ concentration.

We have recently found that sodium fluoride (NaF) induced apoptotic cell death in tumor cell lines. We investigated here whether 6 popular antitumor compounds modify the cytotoxic activity of NaF against human squamous cell carcinoma (HSC-2) and human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cell lines. Cytotoxic concentrations of cisplatin, etoposide, doxorubicin or peplomycin (tentatively termed as Group I compounds), but not methotrexate and 5-FU (tentatively termed as Group II compounds), enhanced the cytotoxic activity of NaF. NaF and Group I compounds induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells, whereas Group II compounds were inactive even in the presence of NaF. Most Group I compounds except doxorubicin (which induced DNA fragmentation less effectively than others) activated caspase 3 more efficiently than Group II compounds. Caspase 8 (involved in non-mitochondrial extrinsic pathway) and caspase 9 (involved in mitochondrial intrinsic pathway) were also activated, but to a much lesser extent. NaF reduced the glucose consumption at early stage, possibly by inhibition of glycolysis, whereas cisplatin and etoposide reduced the glucose consumption at later stage, suggesting that early decline of glucose consumption is rather specific to NaF.

We investigated six endodontic agents for their ability to induce apoptosis and modify the cytotoxic activity of NaF against human squamous cell carcinoma (HSC-2) and human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cell lines. Four Group I agents (Form Cresol, Cam Phenic, Eucaly Soft, GC Fuji Varnish), but not two Group II agents (Caviton, Canals-N), induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and activated caspases 3, 8 and 9 in HL-60 cells. Only Cam Phenic among these agents additively enhanced the cytotoxic activity of NaF in HSC-2 and HL-60 cells. Form Cresol and Cam Phenic reduced the glucose consumption at early stage, possibly due to their toxic effect. Amino acid analysis suggests that the higher cytotoxicity of Form Cresol may be derived, at least in part, from its oxidizing action.