Effects of Melatonin on Prostaglandin E2-induced Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Production in Human Gingival Fibroblasts

The present study examined the effect of melatonin on prostaglandin E2-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in human gingival fibroblasts. Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured in melatonin in the presence/absence of prostaglandin E2 for 1h. The levels of mRNA for IL-1β, IL-8 and osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor were quantitatively evaluated by reverse transcriptase-PCR using a LightCycler method. While melatonin did not significantly alter the levels of osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor mRNA, either in the presence or absence of prostaglandin E2, it markedly decreased the levels of prostaglandin E2-stimulated IL-1β and IL-8 mRNA. These results suggest that melatonin has the potency to reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from prostaglandin E2-activated human gingival fibroblasts in the inflamed periodontal tissues and may act as a new potent drug for the treatment for periodontal disease.