a -tocopherol decreases interleukin-1 b and -6 and increases human b -defensin-1 and -2 secretion in human gingival fibroblasts stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide Derradjia A, Alanazi H, Park HJ, Djeribi R, Semlali A, Rouabhia M. a-tocopherol decreases interleukin-1b and -6 and increases human b-defensin-1 and -2 secretion in human gingival fibroblasts stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide. J Periodont Res 2016; 51: 295–303. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Background and Objective: Periodontitis, a disease associated with chronic inflammation, results in significant destruction of periodontal tissues. Uncon- trolled, periodontal disease negatively affects general patient health. We sought to evaluate the effect of a-tocopherol on gingival fibroblast behavior following exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Material and Methods: Primary human gingival fibroblasts were cultured for 24 and 48 h with a-tocopherol at various concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200 lM) in the presence or absence of 1 lg/mL of LPS. At the end of each time point, cell adhesion and growth were evaluated by means of optical microscope observa- tions and MTT assay. The secretion levels of cytokines interleukin (IL)-1b and IL-6 and human b-defensins 1 and 2 were measured by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, an in vitro scratch wound assay was performed to investigate the effect of a-tocopherol on fibroblast migration. Results: a-tocopherol alone had no adverse effect on cell adhesion and morphol- ogy. Fibroblast proliferation increased in the presence of a-tocopherol with and without LPS. a-tocopherol alone had no effect on inflammatory cytokine (IL-1b and IL-6) secretion. Interestingly, following cell exposure to P. gingivalis LPS, a-tocopherol significantly (p < 0.01) decreased the secretion of these two cytoki- nes and increased human b-defensin-1 and -2 secretion. Finally, a-tocopherol increased the healing rate of the gingival fibroblasts from 12 h up to 48 h. Conclusion: These results suggest that a-tocopherol may play an active role in coun- tering the damaging effect of LPS by reducing inflammatory cytokines, increasing b-defensins and promoting fibroblast growth, migration and wound healing. A. Derradjia 1,2 , H. Alanazi 1 , H. J. Park 1 , R. Djeribi 2 , A. Semlali 3 , M. Rouabhia 1 1 Groupe de Recherche en  Ecologie Buccale, Facult e de M edecine Dentaire, Universit e Laval, Qu ebec, QC, Canada, 2 Groupe de Recherche sur les Biofilms et la Biocontamination des Mat eriaux, Facult e des Sciences, Universit e d’Annaba, Annaba, Algeria and 3 Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Professor Mahmoud Rouabhia, PhD, Groupe de Recherche en  Ecologie Buccale, Facult e de M edecine Dentaire, Universit e Laval, Qu ebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada Tel: +418 656 2131 ext. 16321 Fax: +418 656 2861 e-mail: mahmoud.rouabhia@fmd.ulaval.ca Key words: cytokines; gingival fibroblasts; lipopolysaccharide; wound healing; a-tocopherol; b-defensins Accepted for publication June 9, 2015 J Periodont Res 2016; 51: 295–303 All rights reserved © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd JOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH doi:10.1111/jre.12308