Journal Article

Effects of Electric-Toothbrush Vibrations on the Expression of Collagen and Non-Collagen Proteins through the Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling Pathway in Gingival Fibroblasts

Hideki Tanaka, Kyoko Fukuzawa, Jyunya Nakajima, Takayuki Kawato, Kumiko Nakai, Nobue Kato, Manami Ozaki

2022

Overview

Electric-toothbrush vibrations, which remove plaque, are transmitted to the gingival connective tissue via epithelial cells. Physical energy affects cell function; however, the effects of electric-toothbrush vibrations on gingival extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expression remain unknown. We aimed to examine the effects of these vibrations on the expression of ECM proteins—type I collagen (col I), type III collagen (col III), elastin, and fibronectin (FN)—using human gingival fibroblasts (HGnFs). HGnFs were seeded for 5 days in a six-well plate with a hydrophilic surface, exposed to electric-toothbrush vibrations, and cultured for 7 days. Subsequently, the mRNA and protein levels of col I, col III, elastin, and FN were examined. To investigate the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling on ECM protein expression in vibration-stimulated cells, the cells were treated with siRNA against protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). Electric-toothbrush vibrations increased col I, col III, elastin, and FN expression; promoted collagen and non-collagen protein production; and enhanced FAK phosphorylation in HGnFs. Moreover, PTK2 siRNA completely blocked the effects of these vibrations on the expression of col I, col III and elastin mRNA. The results suggest that electric-toothbrush vibrations increase collagen, elastin, and FN production through the FAK-signaling pathway in fibroblasts.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Antibiotics / Cells, Cultured / Collagen / Collagen (type I) / Collagen (type III) / Connective tissue / Connective tissues / Elastin / electric-toothbrush vibrations / electric-toothbrush vibrations; gingival fibroblasts; extracellular matrix; collagen; fibronectin; elastin; focal adhesion kinase signaling pathway / Epithelial cells / Extracellular matrix / Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Fibroblasts / Fibronectin / Fluorides / Focal adhesion kinase / Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Gene expression / Gingiva / gingival fibroblasts / Humans / Kinases / Laboratories / Microbiology / mRNA / Oral hygiene / Orthodontics / Phosphorylation / Protein expression / Protein-tyrosine kinase / Proteins / QR1-502 / RNA, Messenger / RNA, Small Interfering / Signal Transduction / siRNA / Toothbrushes / Vibration / Vibrations