Regulation of pulp cell matrix metalloproteinase production by cytokines and lipopolysaccharides

Little information is currently known regarding the effects of cytokines and lipopolysaccharides (LPS's) on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production by pulp cells in vitro, In this study, human pulp cells (HPC's) and clonal rat pulp cells RPC-C2A were treated with interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and LPS for 24 h, Conditioned medium and cell lysates were collected and analyzed by gelatin zymography, RPC-C2A cells treated with IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha displayed elevated levels of MMP's in conditioned medium fractions, LPS's at increasing concentrations had a similar effect, HPC's treated with either cytokines or LPS's had no change in the pattern of MMP's produced or secreted in either cellular or conditioned medium fractions, These studies indicate that the effects of cytokines and LPS's on pulp cells are not identical for cells from different species and requires further investigation to clarify these variations.