Black Tea Extract and Its Theaflavin Derivatives Inhibit the Growth of Periodontopathogens and Modulate Interleukin-8 and β-Defensin Secretion in Oral Epithelial Cells.

Marie-Pierre Morin,Jürgen Harder,Daniel Grenier,Telma Blanca Lombardo Bedran,Denise Palomari Spolidorio

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0143158

Marie-Pierre Morin, Jürgen Harder + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0143158

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Abstract

Over the years, several studies have brought evidence suggesting that tea polyphenols, mostly from green tea, may have oral health benefits. Since few data are available concerning the beneficial properties of black tea and its theaflavin derivatives against periodontal disease, the objective of this study was to investigate their antibacterial activity as well as their ability to modulate interleukin-8 and human β-defensin (hBD) secretion in oral epithelial cells. Among the periodontopathogenic bacteria tested, Porphyromonas gingivalis was found to be highly susceptible to the black tea extract and theaflavins. Moreover, our data indicated that the black tea extract, theaflavin and theaflavin-3,3’-digallate can potentiate the antibacterial effect of metronidazole and tetracycline against P. gingivalis. Using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated oral epithelial cells, the black tea extract (100 μg/ml), as well as theaflavin and theaflavin-3,3’-digallate (50 μg/ml) reduced interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion by 85%, 79%, and 86%, respectively, thus suggesting an anti-inflammatory property. The ability of the black tea extract and its theaflavin derivatives to induce the secretion of the antimicrobial peptides hBD-1, hBD-2 and hBD-4 by oral epithelial cells was then evaluated. Our results showed that the black tea extract as well as theaflavin-3,3’-digallate were able to increase the secretion of the three hBDs. In conclusion, the ability of a black tea extract and theaflavins to exert antibacterial activity against major periodontopathogens, to attenuate the secretion of IL-8, and to induce hBD secretion in oral epithelial cells suggest that these components may have a beneficial effect against periodontal disease.

Highlights

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of bacterial origin, whose progression and severity is largely modulated by the host immune response [1]
While chronic periodontitis has been associated with the presence of the red complex bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is considered as the key etiologic agent of aggressive periodontitis [4, 5]
Given that few data are available concerning the beneficial properties of black tea and its theaflavin derivatives against periodontal disease, the objective of this study was to investigate their antibacterial activity as well as their ability to modulate interleukin-8 and human β-defensin secretion in oral epithelial cells

Summary

Introduction

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of bacterial origin, whose progression and severity is largely modulated by the host immune response [1]. Periodontopathogens found established in the subgingival biofilm induce host cellular and humoral responses [6]. In most cases, these responses result in the elimination or the control of the pathogens and prevent the establishment and progression of periodontal diseases [6]. Epithelial cells are a major physical barrier to periodontopathogens [9] They form an integral part of the innate immune system through the secretion of human β-defensins [10] and participate in the inflammatory response of gingival tissues [11]. Previous studies have shown that periodontopathogens can induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 by oral epithelial cells [12]

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