Effects of methotrexate and biologic agents targeting the IL-23Th17 pathway on wound closure in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts: An in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE

The local effects of agents targeting Th17 cells and the IL-17/IL-23 axis in chronic inflammatory processes have attracted increasing research interest. The present study aimed to compare, under in vitro conditions, the effects of drugs commonly used in psoriasis treatment on periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

DESIGN

Primary periodontal fibroblasts, whose fibroblastic phenotype was confirmed by flow cytometry, were allocated into four groups: an untreated control group and three experimental groups treated with methotrexate, secukinumab and ustekinumab at a concentration of 5 µM. After the cells reached confluence, standardized wound areas were created using the scratch assay method, and the respective agents were applied. Wound closure and cellular migration were monitored under an inverted microscope at 12-h intervals over a 48-h period. The acquired images were quantitatively analyzed using Fiji software (v1.49).

RESULTS

In the methotrexate group, fibroblast migration and wound closure rates were significantly lower compared to all other groups (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed among the secukinumab, ustekinumab, and control groups (p > 0.05). Although wound closure rates increased over time in all groups, this increase was markedly attenuated in the methotrexate-treated group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary findings indicate that methotrexate may delay wound healing to a greater extent than biological agents, likely due to its antiproliferative effects. Lower wound closure rates were observed in the methotrexate-treated group, whereas no significant difference was detected between the secukinumab and ustekinumab groups. Nevertheless, further studies should confirm these findings.