Response of L-929 Fibroblasts, Human Gingival Fibroblasts, and Human Tissue Mast Cells to Various Metal Cations

Recent data suggest that under certain conditions, various metal cations are released from dental alloys. These ions may produce adverse effects in various cell types in vivo. In this study, the cytopathogenic effects of 13 metal cations on murine L-929 fibroblasts, human gingival fibroblasts, and human tissue mast cells were analyzed in vitro. Several metal cations (dose range, from 0.0033 to 1.0 mmol/L) were found to induce dose-dependent inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation into cultured fibroblasts. The rank order of potency (lowest observed effect level, LOEL) for L-929 fibroblasts was: Ag+ > Pt4+ > Co 2+ > In 3+ > Ga3+ > Au3+ > Cu 2+ > Ni2+ > Zn2+ > Pd2+ > Mo 5+ > Sn2+ > Cr2+. A similar rank order of potency was obtained for primary human gingival fibroblasts: Pt4+ > Ag+ > Au 3+ > In3+ > Ga3+ > Ni2+ > Co 2+ > Zn 2+ > Cu 2+ > Cr 2+ > Pd2+ > Mo 5+ > Sn2+. In primary human mast cells, Ag+ and Au3+ caused dose-dependent toxic histamine release, whereas the other metal cations were ineffective over the dose range tested. To investigate the mechanism of metal cation-induced effects, we performed DNA as well as electron microscopic analyses on cultured fibroblasts. Both the DNA pattern and the ultrastructure of L-929 cells and gingival fibroblasts after exposure to cytopathogenic metal cations revealed signs of necrosis but no signs of apoptosis. Together, our data provide evidence that various metal cations produce dose-dependent cytopathogenic effects in distinct cell types, including human gingival fibroblasts and human tissue mast cells. Further studies are required to assess whether these effects play a role in adverse reactions to dental alloys which release metal cations in vivo.