Exploring the role of oral microorganisms in the pathogenesis of mucositis by assessing their impact on metabolic activity and reproductive capacity of epithelial cells in vitro

• Published in: Supportive care in cancer Vol. 28; no. 10; pp. 4729 - 4735
• Main Authors: Haverman, Thijs M., Laheij, Alexa M. G. A., Nie, Min, Deng, Dong M., Raber-Durlacher, Judith E., de Soet, Johannes J., Rozema, Frederik R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-10-2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacteroidaceae Infections - metabolism; Bacteroidaceae Infections - microbiology; Bacteroidaceae Infections - pathology; Candida - physiology; Candida glabrata - physiology; Candidiasis - metabolism; Candidiasis - microbiology; Candidiasis - pathology; Care and treatment; Cell Line; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - microbiology; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Health aspects; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Infection; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolism; Microorganisms; Mucositis; Nursing; Nursing Research; Oncology; Original; Original Article; Pain Medicine; Pathogenesis; Physiological aspects; Porphyromonas gingivalis - physiology; Rehabilitation Medicine; Stomatitis - metabolism; Stomatitis - microbiology; Stomatitis - pathology; Wound healing; Wounds and injuries; Clonogenic assay; spp; Oral mucositis; Wound healing; Oral epithelial cells; Candida spp; P. gingivalis
• ISSN: 0941-4355; 1433-7339
• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05318-y

Purpose
Clinical and in vitro studies showed selected oral microorganisms to be related to delayed wound healing and ulcerative oral mucositis. However, it is not known whether this effect is due to reduced metabolism and/or the reduced reproductive capacity of epithelial cells. Therefore, we studied the influence of the oral microorganisms
Porphyromonas gingivalis
,
Candida glabrata
, and
Candida kefyr
on cell metabolism and reproductive capacity of oral epithelial cells, aimed to further unravel the pathogenesis of oral mucositis.
Methods
Oral epithelial cells were exposed to different concentrations of
P. gingivalis
,
C. glabrata
, and
C. kefyr
as mono-infections or mixed together. An MTT assay was performed to determine the effect on cell metabolism. A clonogenic assay was used to study the effect on the reproductive capacity of oral epithelial cells.
Results
The metabolism of oral epithelial cells was reduced when the microorganisms were present in high concentrations:
P. gingivalis
at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1000 and the
Candida
spp. at MOI 100. No statistical difference was observed in the ability of a single epithelial cell to grow into a colony of cells between control and
P. gingivalis
,
C. glabrata
, and
C. kefyr
, independent of the concentrations and combinations used.
Conclusion
P. gingivalis
,
C. glabrata
, and
C. kefyr
lowered the metabolic activity of oral epithelial cells in high concentrations, yet they did not influence the reproductive capacity of epithelial cells. Their impact on ulcerative oral mucositis is likely due to an effect on the migration, proliferation, and metabolism of epithelial cells.