Vitamin C Differentially Regulate Gingival Fibroblasts Behavior in vitro

Objectives: Gingival fibroblasts play a major role in oral wound healing through its intrinsic properties like migration and proliferation. Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid has diverse functions in the body, how L-ascorbic acid affect gingival fibroblasts behavior is of our interest. The aim of this study is to evaluate gingival fibroblasts behavior in the term of cell viability and migration after briefly exposed to L-ascorbic acid.
Methods: Primary human gingival fibroblasts isolated from gingival tissues from healthy volunteers were rinsed 3 times a day with medium containing L-ascorbic acid of various concentrations. Local effect of L-ascorbic acid rinsing on cell migration and viability were assessed by transwell-migration assay and MTT assay, respectively.
Results: Rinsing with vitamin C at concentration of 10 and 20 μg/ml accelerated gingival fibroblast migration in transwell-migration assay but demonstrated no significant effect on cell viability. However, rinsing with vitamin C at higher concentration (50 μg/ml) significantly reduced fibroblasts viability.
Conclusions: Vitamin C at various concentrations differentially affect gingiva fibroblasts behavior. Whether Vitamin C provide some benefit on oral wound healing when prescribe locally in the form of slowly dissolve lozenge need further evaluation.