Čes. stomatol. Prakt. zub. lék. (Czech Dental Journal) 2024; 124(3): 69-74 | DOI: 10.51479/cspzl.2024.002

ELECTROPHILICITY IN THE CONTEXT OF ORAL HOMEOSTASIS AND THE THEORY OF HORMESIS: BIOCHEMICAL VIEW

Vacek J.¹, Beneš P.^{2, 3}, Jusku A.^{2, 3}, Dostál Z.¹, Zatloukalová M.¹, Jirásek P.^{2, 3}

¹ Ústav lékařské chemie a biochemie, Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého v Olomouci

² Klinika zubního lékařství, Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého v Olomouci

³ Klinika zubního lékařství, Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc

Introduction: The oral cavity is a complex system in which mutual chemical communication occurs between tissues, microbiota, and components of saliva and food. This paper focuses on hormetic effects and electrophilic compounds, which can play a role in defense mechanisms against oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. Hormetic effects, induced by sublethal or subtoxic stressors, can activate repair mechanisms and enhance tissue resistance to damage.

Methods: The analysis was conducted through searches in three electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. Our research focused on studies published between 2000 and 2023 that dealt with redox processes, inflammatory conditions, and activation of the Nrf2 pathway in the oral cavity. Studies focused on cancerous diseases were excluded.

Conclusion: Electrophilic compounds act as one of the agents that interfere with the homeostasis of the oral cavity, and can thus find therapeutic potential in dentistry, specifically in periodontology. However, findings based on in vitro and preclinical studies require further verification under clinical conditions, and also considering interactions with oral microbiota.

Keywords: hormesis, Nrf2 pathway, nitro-fatty acids, oral cavity homeostasis

Received: May 17, 2024; Revised: August 14, 2024; Accepted: August 20, 2024; Prepublished online: September 17, 2024; Published: September 30, 2024  Show citation