Modulatory Effect of PRP Versus Propolis as Therapeutic Agents on LPS -Induced Inflamed Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells

Awwad, Rania Ahmed; Hassabou, Nadia Fathy; Nabil, Nesreen

doi:10.21608/asdj.2025.354326.1808

Modulatory Effect of PRP Versus Propolis as Therapeutic Agents on LPS -Induced Inflamed Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells

Document Type : Original articles

Authors

¹ Oral biology Department, Faculty of dentistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

² Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, October 6 University, Egypt.

³ Oral Biology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Egyptian Russian University, Egypt.

10.21608/asdj.2025.354326.1808

Abstract

Aim: This project aims to explore the potential modulatory effects of platelets rich plasma (PRP) and propolis on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflamed human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs) cultures and determining the propolis concentration that exhibited the greatest anti-inflammatory activity.
Materials and Methods: HDPSCs were isolated, cultured and equally split into five groups: Group I: HDPSCs without any additions; Group II: LPS was added to induce inflammation (iHDPSCs); Group III: iHDPSCs treated with PRP; Group IV: iHDPSCs treated with propolis (10 ng); Group V: iHDPSCs treated with propolis (30 ng). Morphological changes in all studied groups were examined microscopically. Inflammatory microenvironment stimulated with LPS were investigated by assessing cell viability, evaluating oxidative damage by measuring the levels of GSH and MDA, evaluating pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, PGE-2, IL-4 and IL-10. Quantitative expression of AKT, p38 MAPK and Caspase-3 was also evaluated.
Results: Cell viability of iHDPSCs treated groups was much closer to that of the control group. Potent antioxidant action evidenced by significant increase in levels of GSH and marked decrease of MDA levels in iHDPSCs treated groups. Pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and PGE-2 were evidently downregulated in iHDPSCs treated groups, while highly significant increase in the production of IL-4 and IL-10 was demonstrated. Gene profile of AKT, p38 MAPK and Caspase-3 revealed statistically significant down regulation in iHDPSCs when treated with PRP and propolis.
Conclusion: PRP and propolis play a pivotal role in controlling the inflammatory microenvironment in HDPSCs stimulated with LPS. Higher concentration of propolis exerted much better effects.

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