Jumpei Washio

Metabolomic Effects of Xylitol and Fluoride on Plaque Biofilm in Vivo

Dental caries is initiated by demineralization of the tooth surface through acid production from sugar by plaque biofilm. Fluoride and xylitol have been used worldwide as caries-preventive reagents, based on in vitro-proven inhibitory mechanisms on bacterial acid production. We attempted to confirm the inhibitory mechanisms of fluoride and xylitol in vivo by performing metabolome analysis on the central carbon metabolism in supragingival plaque using the combination of capillary electrophoresis and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Fluoride (225 and 900 ppm F−) inhibited lactate production from 10% glucose by 34% and 46%, respectively, along with the increase in 3-phosphoglycerate and the decrease in phosphoenolpyruvate in the EMP pathway in supragingival plaque. These results confirmed that fluoride inhibited bacterial enolase in the EMP pathway and subsequently repressed acid production in vivo. In contrast, 10% xylitol had no effect on acid production and the metabolome profile in supragingival plaque, although xylitol 5-phosphate was produced. These results suggest that xylitol is not an inhibitor of plaque acid production but rather a non-fermentative sugar alcohol. Metabolome analyses of plaque biofilm can be applied for monitoring the efficacy of dietary components and medicines for plaque biofilm, leading to the development of effective plaque control.

Nested PCR for detection of mutans streptococci in dental plaque

Aims: Mutans streptococci such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus have been implicated in human dental caries. In an attempt to develop a rapid and sensitive method for detecting Strep. mutans and Strep. sobrinus in dental plaque, a nested PCR amplification based on the 16S rRNA gene was employed.

Effect of fluoride-releasing restorative materials on bacteria-induced pH fall at the bacteria–material interface: An in vitro model study

OBJECTIVES Inhibition of bacterial acid production by dental restorative materials is one of the strategies for secondary caries prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fluoride-releasing restorative materials on bacteria-induced pH fall at the bacteria-material interface. METHODS Four fluoride-releasing restorative materials, glass-ionomer cement (GIC), resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RMGIC), resin composite (RC) and flowable resin composite (FRC) were used. Each specimen was immersed in potassium phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 for 10min and 4 weeks, and in potassium acetate buffer at pH 5.5 for 4 weeks. An experimental apparatus was made of polymethyl methacrylate and had a well with restorative materials or polymethyl methacrylate (control) at the bottom. The well was packed with cells of Streptococcus mutans, and the pH at the interface between cells and materials was monitored using a miniature pH electrode after the addition of 1% glucose for 90min, and the fluoride released into the well was quantified using a fluoride ion electrode. RESULTS The pH of GIC (4.98-5.18), RMGIC (4.77-4.99), RC (4.62-4.75) and FRC (4.54-4.84) at 90min were higher than that of control (4.31-4.49). The fluoride amounts released from GIC were the highest, followed by RMGIC, RC and FRC, irrespective of immersion conditions. Saliva coating on materials had no significant effect. CONCLUSIONS The fluoride-releasing restorative materials inhibited pH fall at the bacteria-material interface. The degree of inhibition of pH fall seemed to correspond to the amount of fluoride detected, suggesting that the inhibition was due to the fluoride released from these materials. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE A little amount of fluoride actually released from the fluoride-releasing materials may have caries preventive potential for oral bacteria.

Effects of pH and Lactate on Hydrogen Sulfide Production by Oral Veillonella spp.

ABSTRACT Indigenous oral bacteria in the tongue coating such as Veillonella have been identified as the main producers of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), one of the major components of oral malodor. However, there is little information on the physiological properties of H2S production by oral Veillonella such as metabolic activity and oral environmental factors which may affect H2S production. Thus, in the present study, the H2S-producing activity of growing cells, resting cells, and cell extracts of oral Veillonella species and the effects of oral environmental factors, including pH and lactate, were investigated. Type strains of Veillonella atypica, Veillonella dispar, and Veillonella parvula were used. These Veillonella species produced H2S during growth in the presence of l-cysteine. Resting cells of these bacteria produced H2S from l-cysteine, and the cell extracts showed enzymatic activity to convert l-cysteine to H2S. H2S production by resting cells was higher at pH 6 to 7 and lower at pH 5. The presence of lactate markedly increased H2S production by resting cells (4.5- to 23.7-fold), while lactate had no effect on enzymatic activity in cell extracts. In addition to H2S, ammonia was produced in cell extracts of all the strains, indicating that H2S was produced by the catalysis of cystathionine γ-lyase (EC 4.4.1.1). Serine was also produced in cell extracts of V. atypica and V. parvula, suggesting the involvement of cystathionine β-synthase lyase (EC 4.2.1.22) in these strains. This study indicates that Veillonella produce H2S from l-cysteine and that their H2S production can be regulated by oral environmental factors, namely, pH and lactate.

Evaluation of pH at the Bacteria–Dental Cement Interface

Physiochemical assessment of the parasite-biomaterial interface is essential in the development of new biomaterials. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to evaluate pH at the bacteria-dental cement interface and to demonstrate physiochemical interaction at the interface. The experimental apparatus with a well (4.0 mm in diameter and 2.0 mm deep) was made of polymethyl methacrylate with dental cement or polymethyl methacrylate (control) at the bottom. Three representative dental cements (glass-ionomer, zinc phosphate, and zinc oxide-eugenol cements) were used. Each specimen was immersed in 2 mM potassium phosphate buffer for 10 min, 24 hrs, 1 wk, or 4 wks. The well was packed with Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449, and a miniature pH electrode was placed at the interface between bacterial cells and dental cement. The pH was monitored after the addition of 1% glucose, and the fluoride contained in the cells was quantified. Glass-ionomer cement inhibited the bacteria-induced pH fall significantly compared with polymethyl methacrylate (control) at the interface (10 min, 5.16 ± 0.19 vs. 4.50 ± 0.07; 24 hrs, 5.20 ± 0.07 vs. 4.59 ± 0.11; 1 wk, 5.34 ± 0.14 vs. 4.57 ± 0.11; and 4 wks, 4.95 ± 0.27 vs. 4.40 ± 0.14), probably due to the fluoride released from the cement. This method could be useful for the assessment of pH at the parasite-biomaterial interface.

Glucose and glutamine metabolism in oral squamous cell carcinoma: insight from a quantitative metabolomic approach.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the metabolic system of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by metabolome analysis. STUDY DESIGN The metabolome profiles, including the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway (EMPP), the pentose phosphate pathway, the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCAC), and amino acids, were obtained from OSCC and its surrounding normal tissues (32 patients) using capillary electrophoresis and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. RESULTS Enhancement of glucose consumption and lactate production (Warburg effect) was observed in OSCC tissues. The decrease of glucose along with the decrease of the downstream intermediates in the EMPP suggests that incorporated glucose is mainly consumed for biosynthesis. Glutamine consumption with the increase of the intermediates in the last half of the TCAC suggests the involvement of glutaminolysis, in which glutamine is converted to lactate via the last half of the TCAC. CONCLUSIONS It is suggested that OSCC tissues show the Warburg effect, which stems from the combined enhancement of glucose consumption and glutaminolysis.

Metabolomic Studies of Oral Biofilm, Oral Cancer, and Beyond.

Oral diseases are known to be closely associated with oral biofilm metabolism, while cancer tissue is reported to possess specific metabolism such as the ‘Warburg effect’. Metabolomics might be a useful method for clarifying the whole metabolic systems that operate in oral biofilm and oral cancer, however, technical limitations have hampered such research. Fortunately, metabolomics techniques have developed rapidly in the past decade, which has helped to solve these difficulties. In vivo metabolomic analyses of the oral biofilm have produced various findings. Some of these findings agreed with the in vitro results obtained in conventional metabolic studies using representative oral bacteria, while others differed markedly from them. Metabolomic analyses of oral cancer tissue not only revealed differences between metabolomic profiles of cancer and normal tissue, but have also suggested a specific metabolic system operates in oral cancer tissue. Saliva contains a variety of metabolites, some of which might be associated with oral or systemic disease; therefore, metabolomics analysis of saliva could be useful for identifying disease-specific biomarkers. Metabolomic analyses of the oral biofilm, oral cancer, and saliva could contribute to the development of accurate diagnostic, techniques, safe and effective treatments, and preventive strategies for oral and systemic diseases.

Analysis of ketone bodies in exhaled breath and blood of ten healthy Japanese at OGTT using a portable gas chromatograph

Ketone bodies including acetone are disease biomarkers for diabetes that sometimes causes severe ketoacidosis. The present study was undertaken to clarify the significance of exhaled acetone and plasma ketone bodies at bedside in a clinical setting. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 10 healthy Japanese volunteers (five females and five males). Exhaled breath acetone and volatile sulfide compounds (VSCs) in mouth air were measured simultaneously with blood sampling during the OGTT using a portable gas chromatograph equipped with an In2O3 thick-film type gas sensor and a VSC monitor. Acetone, β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) and acetoacetate (AcAc) in blood plasma as well as glucose and insulin were examined. Oral conditions were examined based on the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) by one dentist. In addition, the same type of analysis was applied to two uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients hospitalized at Tohoku University Hospital. Exhaled acetone was measured at the same time as blood withdrawal in the morning before breakfast and at night before bed at the beginning, the middle, and the end of hospitalization. All volunteers showed normal OGTT patterns with no ketonuria and periodontitis; however, there were significant correlations between breath acetone and plasma β-ΟΗΒ and between breath acetone and plasma AcAc under fasting conditions. Breath acetone of the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients showed positive correlations with plasma glucose when the level of plasma glucose tended to decrease during hospitalization. In spite of a very limited number of cases, our results support the idea that exhaled breath acetone may be related to plasma β-OHB and AcAc, which reflect glucose metabolism in the body.

Effects of α-Amylase and Its Inhibitors on Acid Production from Cooked Starch by Oral Streptococci

This study evaluated acid production from cooked starch by Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mitis, and the effects of α-amylase inhibitors (maltotriitol and acarbose) and xylitol on acid production. Streptococcal cell suspensions were anaerobically incubated with various carbohydrates that included cooked potato starch in the presence or absence of α-amylase. Subsequently, the fall in pH and the acid production rate at pH 7.0 were measured. In addition, the effects of adding α-amylase inhibitors and xylitol to the reaction mixture were evaluated. In the absence of α-amylase, both the fall in pH and the acid production rate from cooked starch were small. On the other hand, in the presence of α-amylase, the pH fell to 3.9–4.4 and the acid production rate was 0.61–0.92 μmol per optical density unit per min. These values were comparable to those for maltose. When using cooked starch, the fall in pH by S. sanguinis and S. mitis was similar to that by S. mutans and S. sobrinus. For all streptococci, α-amylase inhibitors caused a decrease in acid production from cooked starch, although xylitol only decreased acid production by S. mutans and S. sobrinus. These results suggest that cooked starch is potentially acidogenic in the presence of α-amylase, which occurs in the oral cavity. In terms of the acidogenic potential of cooked starch, S. sanguinis and S. mitis were comparable to S. mutans and S. sobrinus. α-Amylase inhibitors and xylitol might moderate this activity.

Divalent Cations Enhance Fluoride Binding to Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis Cells and Subsequently Inhibit Bacterial Acid Production

One preventive effect of topical fluoride application is derived from the fact that fluoride can inhibit bacterial acid production. Furthermore, divalent cations such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ increase the binding of fluoride to bacterial cells. These findings suggest that exposure of oral bacteria to fluoride in the presence of divalent cations increases fluoride binding to bacterial cells and subsequently enhances fluoride-induced inhibition of bacterial acid production. This study investigated the effects of fluoride exposure (0–20,000 ppm F) in the presence of Ca2+ or Mg2+ prior to glucose challenge on pH fall ability by bacterial sugar fermentation, as well as fluoride binding to bacterial cells by exposure to fluoride, and fluoride release from bacterial cells during bacterial sugar fermentation, using caries-related bacteria, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis. The pH fall by both streptococci was inhibited by exposure to over 250 ppm F in the presence of Ca2+ (p < 0.01), whereas in the presence of Mg2+, the pH fall by S. mutans and S. sanguinis was inhibited after exposure to over 250 and 950 ppm F, respectively (p < 0.05). The amounts of fluoride binding to and released from streptococcal cells increased with the concentration of fluoride the cells were exposed to in the presence of Mg2+, but were high enough even after 250 ppm F exposure in the presence of Ca2+. The enhanced inhibition of acid production in the presence of divalent cations is probably due to the improved efficiency of fluoride binding to bacterial cells being improved via these divalent cations.