Host defense peptide IDR-1002 associated with ciprofloxacin as a new antimicrobial and immunomodulatory strategy for dental pulp revascularization therapy

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis 2021-03, Vol.152, p.104634-104634, Article 104634
• Main Authors: Sousa, Maurício Gonçalves C., Xavier, Patrícia D., Cantuária, Ana Paula de C., Porcino, Rayssa A., Almeida, Jeeser A., Franco, Octávio L., Rezende, Taia Maria B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fibroblasts; Host defense peptides; Macrophages; Pulp revascularization; Triple antibiotic paste
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104634

Regenerative therapies such as dental pulpal revascularization appear as an option for traumatized immature permanent teeth. However, the triple antibiotic paste - TAP (metronidazole, minocycline, and ciprofloxacin), used for these therapies, can generate cytotoxicity and dentin discoloration. In contrast, host defense peptides (HDPs) are promising antimicrobial and immunomodulatory biomolecules for dentistry. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro the antimicrobial activity (against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and the immunomodulatory potential (by the evaluation of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-12, IL-10, TNF-α and NO, in RAW 264.7 macrophages and IL-6, TGF-β and NO, in L929 fibroblast) of synthetic peptides (DJK-6, IDR-1018, and IDR-1002), compared to TAP in an in vitro infection model containing heat-killed antigens from E. faecalis and S. aureus. Furthermore, the synergistic potential of ciprofloxacin and IDR-1002 was evaluated by checkerboard. Ciprofloxacin was the best antimicrobial of TAP, besides acting in synergism with IDR-1002. TAP was pro-inflammatory (p