The adhesion and growth of both the human primary gingival epithelial cells and Streptococcus mutans on micro-arc...

With good osseointegration properties, micro-arc oxidation has now gradually become the key point in basic research and clinical trials, but interface between the implant surface treated by micro-arc oxidation and gingival soft tissues has been seldom reported. The influences of micro-arc oxidation surface treatment on the biological behavior of primary human gingival epithelial cells (hGEC) and common pathogen Streptococcus mutans have been studied. MTT method was taken to test the adhesion and growth of hGEC on different treated surfaces. No significant changes were found between with or without MAO- treated surface. However, higher growth rate was observed in MAO group at first and third days, although it showed no significant difference at fifth and seventh day. Secretions of EGF of the cells grown on both surfaces were also no big changes (P > 0.05). RT-PCR showed adhesion gene of hGEC, E-cad on the first day of micro-arc oxidation surface treatment, expression level is higher than that of polishing group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference of the expression levels of Itgβ1, PCNA, and EGF. Finally, easier adhesion and high growth rate of Streptococcus mutans were found at MAO-treated surface (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggested MAO-treated Ti surface may favor epithelial cell adhesion, but it also increase the risk of bacterial infection.