IADR Abstract Archives

Ethanol and Acetaldehyde Modulate Dysplastic and Cancerous Oral Cell Lines.

Objectives: Alcohol consumption is a traditional risk factor for oral cancer. It is metabolised to carcinogenic acetaldehyde via alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) expressed by oral mucosa and oral microbes. Using two oral cancer cell lines, gingival squamous cell carcinoma Ca9.22 and buccal squamous cell carcinoma TR146, and a dysplastic pre-cancerous cell line DOK, this study will look at the the ethanol metabolising ability of the cell lines and compare the effects of ethanol versus acetaldehyde at concentrations found in vivo on cell death and ROS production.
Methods: Ethanol metabolising abilities of the cell lines were assessed using an EtOH assay, ADH activity assay and RT-PCR to determine expression of ADH and aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes. Cell lines were treated with EtOH (0-5%) or acetaldehyde (50-900μM) and cell viability, apoptosis and ROS production were measured using AlamarBlue assay and flow cytometric analysis.
Results: All oral cell lines possess ADH activity, which does not result in significant differences in clearance of ethanol from culture media. This study demonstrated that ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde affect oral cell lines in terms of viability and ROS production. Ca9.22 cells show sensitivity to both ethanol/acetaldehyde treatments while TR146 cells show sensitivity to ethanol alone. The DOK cells are relatively resistant to ethanol and acetaldehyde and demonstrate an ability to recover from initial insult.
Conclusions: The discriminate effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on the cell lines may be partly explained by location within the oral cavity and degree of dysplasia. The resistance of dysplastic DOK cells to ethanol and acetaldehyde suggests a mechanism for promoting malignant transformation; by upregulating cell recovery/repair mechanisms exposure to acetaldehyde is prolonged and may lead to increased DNA mutations and tumour formation. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying cellular mechanisms in response to ethanol and acetaldehyde in these cell lines.

2021 Irish Division Meeting (Virtual)

2021

  • O'grady, Isabel  ( Dublin Dental University Hospital , Dublin , Leinster , Ireland ;  The University of Dublin Trinity College , Dublin , Ireland )
  • NONE
    Oral Session
    Oral Research Presentations