Effects of streptococcus mutans on the expression of inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and p53 by human gum fibroblast cells

Oral bacteria are involved in the etiology of oral cancer. In this study, Streptococcus mutans were examined for the gene's expression involved in inflammation, carcinogenicity, and tumor inhibition among these species. This study aimed to determine the association between microbiome and oral cancer. Human Gingival Fibroblast (HGF) and S. mutans were cultured on their relative mediums. Then, HGF was preconditioned whit several concentrations of S. mutans extract, and the cell viability was determined by MTT assay. HGF cells were treated with an optimum dose of bacterial extract, and then the total RNA was extracted from treated and untreated HGF cells. Lastly, p53 and TNF-α gene expression was evaluated by Real-Time PCR. The results implied that in the S. mutans presence, TNF-α and P53 genes expression in the HGFs increased and decreased, respectively. This result suggests that S. mutans may invasively enhance oral cancer cells. These findings more designate the association between oral microbiota and oral cancer. This relation is of clinical importance for the prevention and treatment of oral cancer in the future.