Farnesol inhibits development of caries by augmenting oxygen sensitivity and suppressing virulence-associated gene expression in Streptococcus mutans
Li Cao
Zhen-zhen Zhang
Shuang-bo Xu
Ming Ma
Xin Wei
摘要：Streptococcus mutans is a primary etiological agent of dental caries.Farnesol,as a potential antimicrobial agent,inhibits the development ofS.mutans biofilm.In this study,we hypothesized that farnesol inhibits caries development in vitro and interferes with biofilm formation by regulating virulence-associated gene expression.The inhibitory effects of farnesol to S.mutans biofilms on enamel surfaces were investigated by determining micro-hardness and calcium measurements.Additionally,the morphological changes of S.mutans biofilms were compared using field emission scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy,and the vitality and oxygen sensitivity of S.mutans biofilms were compared using MTT assays.To investigate the molecular mechanisms of farnesol's effects,expressions of possible target genes luxS,brpA,ffh,recA,nth,and smx were analyzed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative PCR.Famesol-treated groups exhibited significantly higher micro-hardness on the enamel surface and lower calcium concentration of the supernatants as compared to the-untreated control.Microscopy revealed that a thinner film with less extracellular matrix formed in the famesol-treated groups.As compared to the-untreated control,farnesol inhibited biofilm formation by 26.4％ with 500 μmol/L and by 37.1％ with 1,000 μmol/L (P ＜ 0.05).Last,decreased transcription levels of luxS,brpA,ffh,recA,nth,and smx genes were expressed in famesol-treated biofilms.In vitro farnesol inhibits caries development and S.mutans biofilm formation.The regulation of luxS,brpA,ffh,recA,nth,and smx genes may contribute to the inhibitory effects of famesol.
机标关键词：Streptococcus mutansinhibitory effectsscanning electron microscopypolymerase chain reactionmorphological changesmolecular mechanismsextracellular matrixantimicrobial agent
分类号：R781.1(口腔内科学)
资助基金：National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (Grant No)National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (81271151 and Grant No)National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (81371156)The Foundation of the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD)The Foundation of the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (2014-37)
论文发表日期：2017-01-01
在线出版日期：2025-08-15（本平台首次上网日期，不代表文献的发表时间）
页数：11( 333-343 )
英文信息