Anti-inflammatory Action of Cetyl Pyridinium Chloride

Cetyl Pyridinium Chloride (CPC) is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent which has been clinically proven to help control supragingival plaque and gingivitis in a highly bioavailable rinse matrix. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory action of CPC, independent of the anti-bacterial action. Methods: The inhibition of several host and bacterial pro-inflammatory enzymes by CPC were tested in vitro. The inhibition of purified human mammalian matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and IL-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE) were measured by the cleavage of the fluorogenic substrates Mca-Pro-Leu-Gly-Leu-Dpa-Ala-Arg-NH2 and N-acetyl-Trp-Glu-His-Asp-AMC, respectively. The inhibition of cyclooxygenases COX1 and 2 was measured using a colorimetric assay (Cayman Chemical). The activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis R-gingipain was tested on the fluorogenic substrate Z-Phe-Arg-AMC•HCl. Results: CPC was demonstrated to inhibit several mammalian matrix metalloproteinase subtypes and other pro-inflammatory enzymes, with a rank order of potency of MMP13 > MMP1 > MMP9 > MMP3 > COX 1 ~ COX2 > gingipain > MMP2 > ICE. When comparing the potency of CPC with doxycycline (Periostat), an MMP inhibitor used to treat periodontitis, CPC was found to be more potent than doxycycline in inhibiting most of the tested MMP subtypes. Conclusions: These findings indicate that CPC demonstrates direct anti-inflammatory activity and prevention of tissue destruction in addition to its well established anti-bacterial activity against gingivitis.