Effect of root canal sealers on mouse peritoneal macrophage functions

Three root canal filling materials, viz. calcium hydroxide-based cement (Apexit, resin-based cement (AH-plus) and glass-ionomer based material (Ketac Endo) were tested for their influence on several functions of peritoneal macrophages from Balb/c mice. Macrophage functions were evaluated by the adherence, phagocytic, candidacidal and Nitro blue tetrazolium-dye assays. Ketac-Endo enhanced all macrophage functions in the first 2 d (p < or = 0.05), when compared to the positive control, but this effect had changed after 7 and 14 d, causing inhibition of these functions. Other materials suppressed substrate adherence capacity and phagocytosis, while significantly stimulating macrophage microbicidal activity (p < or = 0.05) in a time-dependent manner.