Effect of agents used in perforation repair on osteoblastic cells

The effects of dental materials on osteoblastic responses in bone were measured using biosynthesis of matrix proteins, osteopontin (OPN), and osteocalcin (OCN) as indices. Materials used in perforation repair were standardly mixed and extracted in sterile water for 10 days. Extracts were added to the medium of osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells and cultured for 48 h. Water incubated in parallel served as the vehicle/dilution control. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3, which increases biosynthesis of OPN and OCN, served as the positive control. After culture, total cellular RNA was isolated from individual monolayers, and Northern blotting was performed to quantitate mRNA levels encoding OCN and OPN. mRNA levels in treated samples were compared with controls, and significant differences were detected for several materials. Changes in matrix biosynthesis were modest (< 2-fold), compared with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (6-fold). Materials used in perforation repair may produce small, but measurable effects on osteoblastic responses.