Cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of the type I photoinitiators BAPO and TPO on human oral keratinocytes and V79 fibroblasts.

Objectives: Phenylbis(acyl) phosphine oxide (BAPO) and diphenyl(acyl) phosphine oxide (TPO) are alternative photoinitiators to camphorquinone (CQ) in dental resinous materials. Aim of this study was to investigate their cytotoxic/genotoxic potential in human oral keratinocytes (OKF6/Tert2) and Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79) in comparison to CQ.

Methods: Cells were exposed to different concentrations of BAPO and TPO (1-50μM). Cytotoxicity was evaluated using H33342 and MTT assay, cell proliferation by BrdU proliferation assay and microscopy. Effects on cellular redox homeostasis were assessed by detecting intracellular levels of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) using the DCFH assay and by quantification of mRNA expression of oxidatively regulated, cyto-protective enzymes. Genotoxic potential was determined by use of micronucleus (MN) assay.

Results: BAPO and TPO induced a concentration-dependent decrease of cell number. BAPO and TPO showed 50- to 250-fold higher cytotoxicity than CQ. In contrast to CQ, both photoinitiators revealed no increase of intracellular ROS/RNS. However, BAPO (10μM) at least significantly induced mRNA-expression of redox-regulated proteins after 24h similar to 2.5mM CQ. Additionally, BAPO significantly raised the number of micronuclei, but only in V79 cells (10μM: 12±1, 2.5mM CQ: 15±1, medium control: 6±3). However, it also significantly decreased proliferation of these cells (10μM BAPO: 19.8%±7.3% compared to controls).

Significance: BAPO and TPO revealed concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects in human oral keratinocytes and V79 cells. However, in contrast to CQ, no generation of intracellular ROS/RNS was found. Only BAPO induced genotoxicity in V79 cells.