Abstract: PURPOSE: To study the effects of composite resin and glass-ionomer cements on cell proliferation and function of human macrophages in vitro. METHODS: Macrophages were differentiated from THP-1 cells after treatment with phorbol ester and used as the model of inflammatory cells, which were treated by specimens from glass-ionomer cements(GC), composite resin Filtek Z350(3M)and Filtek P60(3M) on culture medium for 24 hours. The cell proliferation of the tooth-colored restorative materials on human macrophages in vitro was evaluated by MTT color imetric assay, and determined for IL-1 content in these material specimens by ELISA.All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 17.0 software package. RESULTS: Compared with control group, composite resin Filtek Z350(3M) and Filtek P60(3M) significantly enhanced the proliferation of human macrophages (P<0.05), while Glass-ionomer had little effect on the proliferation of human macrophages (P>0.05). Glass-ionomer could promote macrophages to secrete IL-1β and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). The composite resin could not cause release of IL- 1β from macrophages (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Composite resin enhances proliferation and function of human macrophages. The effect may be associated with hypersensitivity of dentin. Glass-ionomer cement has little effect on proliferation of macrophages, but may lead to progress of inflammation.

Key words: Compositresin, Macrophages, Dentin hypersensitivity