A possible therapeutic for gingival overgrowth caused by calcium channel blockers

Abstract

In the present study, the results of characters in nifedipine responders (NIFr) and nifedipine non-responders (NIFn) are summarized, and the possibility of using tenidap and 18ƒ¿ -glycyrrhetinic acid (18ƒ¿-GA) as a therapeutic for gingival overgrowth caused by calcium channel blockers is investigated. 18ƒ¿-GA inhibited cell proliferation and G1/S transition were induced in NIFr cells. It was also shown that cell cycle control proteins were down-stream targets in the growth-inhibition activity of 18ƒ¿-GA in NIFr cells. Tenidap discharges intracellular Ca2+ store, resulting in a depletion of intracellular Ca2+ store in NIFr cells. It also inhibits cell growth, DNA and collagen syntheses, lowered intracellular pH, and enhanced matrix metalloproteinase-1 formation in NIFr cells. These results suggest that 18ƒ¿-GA and tenidap might be effective for the prevention of gingival overgrowth caused by calcium channel blockers.