Effect of tranilast on matrix metalloproteinase-1 secretion from human gingival fibroblasts in vitro.

Background: Some drugs such as phenytoin, calcium blockers, or cyclosporins are known to cause gingival fibrous hyperplasia, an unwanted side effect. Decreased collagen catabolism in overgrown gingival tissue has been proposed as one of the reasons causing the disease. The effect of tranilast, which suppresses collagen synthesis and cell proliferation, on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1) secretion from human gingival fibroblast, was studied in vitro.

Methods: Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured from specimens taken from healthy, periodontal, and overgrown gingival tissues. The effects of tranilast on cell proliferation and MMP-1 secretion from gingival fibroblast were assessed. Inhibitory effect of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta secretion from gingival fibroblast by tranilast was also evaluated.

Results: Tranilast did not interfere with cell proliferation at the low concentrations. MMP-1 concentration significantly increased at the lower doses of tranilast up to about 2-fold compared to controls (P < 0.05). In contrast, higher doses of tranilast significantly decreased activity to 30% and 20%, respectively. MMP-1 secretion was inhibited significantly by phenytoin, nifedipine, and cyclosporin A and the depressed MMP-1 recovered to the control level with tranilast. The amount of secretion from normal and periodontitis gingival fibroblast specimens did not differ, but that from the overgrown gingiva was significantly less than the other types. Moreover, TGF-beta secretion was significantly inhibited by 300 microM of tranilast.

Conclusions: Tranilast upregulates the expression of type 1 collagenase suppressed by gingival overgrowth-inducing drugs, and inhibits TGF-beta secretion from gingival fibroblasts. Therefore, tranilast could be considered as an agent for controlling gingival over-growth.