Stimulatory Effects of Hydroxyl Radical Generation by Ga-Al-As Laser Irradiation on Mineralization Ability of Human Dental Pulp Cells

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Ga-Al-As laser irradiation on the mineralization ability of human dental pulp (HDP) cells. HDP cells in vitro were irradiated once with a Ga-AL-As laser at 0.5 W for 500 s and at 1.0 W for 500 s in order to investigate free radicals as one mechanism for transmission of laser photochemical energy to cells. Production of the hydroxyl radical (*OH) was measured using the ESR spin-trapping method and was found to be increased by laser irradiation. The DMPO-OH was not detected in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a *OH scavenger. The formation of calcification nodule was also investigated by von Kossa staining. The number of calcified nodules was increased by 1.0 W-laser irradiation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was higher in the 1.0 W-laser irradiation group. Expression of mRNAs for heat shock protein 27, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and ALP were greater in the 1.0 W-laser irradiation group. Expression of BMPs in the conditioned medium was also higher in the 1.0 W-laser irradiation group. In particular, DMSO decreased the number of calcified nodule produced by 1.0 W-laser irradiation. These results supposed that the mineralization of HDP cells is stimulated by laser irradiation, and that *OH generated by laser irradiation is a trigger for promotion of HDP cell mineralization.