Induction of DNA double-strand breaks in primary gingival fibroblasts by exposure to dental resin composites

Dental resin composites and their reactive monomers/co-monomers have been shown to elicit cytotoxic responses in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF), and their metabolic radical intermediates have the potential to attack the DNA backbone, which may induce DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In this study we have tested the cytotoxicity and induction of DSBs by the most common composite resin monomers/co-monomers: BisGMA, HEMA, TEGDMA, and UDMA in gingival fibroblasts using the sensitive γ-H2AX DNA repair focus assay. Our results show increasing monomer cytotoxicities in the order of BisGMA > UDMA > TEGDMA > HEMA, an order that was also observed for their capacity to induce DSBs. BisGMA at the EC50 concentration of 0.09 mm evoked the highest rate of γ-H2AX foci-formation that was 11-fold higher DNA DSBs as compared to the negative controls that ranged between 0.25 and 0.5 γ-H2AX foci/HGF cell. Our results for the first time show that exposure to dental resin monomers can induce DSBs in primary human oral cavity cells, which underscores their genotoxic capacity.