Effects of plasma-treated titanium on LPS-stimulated gingival soft tissue cells

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess cell viability and inflammatory cytokine release of LPS-stimulated IHOK (Immortalized Human Oral Keratinocytes) and hTERT–hNOF (Immortalized Human Gingival Fibroblasts) on titanium (Ti).
Methods: The plasma was formed by passing 5000 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) of compressed air through the non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet device. Mirror polished Ti specimens underwent NTAPPJ treatment for 10 min, with a 2-mm distance between NTAPPJ device tip and Ti specimens. LPS-stimulated or non-stimulated gingival soft tissue cells; IHOK and hTERT-hNOF were cultured on NTAPPJ treated or not NTAPPJ treated Ti specimens in 12well for 4 hours. In all groups, inflammatory cytokine of gingival soft tissue cells were analyzed by using ELISA kits assays for IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8 and cell viability was confirmed by WST assay. This data were analyzed using independent t-test.
Results: In all groups, cell viability of IHOK and hTERT-hNOF was enhanced on NTAPPJ treated Ti specimens (p<0.05). In non-stimulated groups, inflammatory cytokine of IHOK and hTERT-hNOF on NTAPPJ treated Ti specimens were not significantly different compared to control (p>0.05). In LPS-stimulated groups, IL-1b, IL-6 of IHOK was significantly decreased on NTAPPJ treated Ti specimens (p<0.05), but, IL-8 was not significantly different (p>0.05). IL-1b, IL-8 of hTERT-hNOF was significantly decreased on NTAPPJ treated Ti specimens (p<0.05), but, IL-6 was not significantly different (p>0.05).
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that NTAPPJ treated Ti specimens resulted in both increase of viability and decrease of inflammatory cytokine release from LPS-stimulated gingival soft tissue cells, except for IL-8 of IHOK and IL-6 of hTERT-hNOF. Hence, it is expected that NTAPPJ treatment on titanium dental implant abutment will increase success of dental implant surgery.