Journal of Dental Research, Vol 71, 1298-1303, Copyright © 1992 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Chlorhexidine effects on membrane lipid domains of human buccal epithelial cells
K. L. Audus, M. R. Tavakoli-Saberi, H. Zheng and E. N. Boyce
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045.
The effect of chlorhexidine gluconate on the adherence of Candida albicans
to human buccal epithelial cells (BEC) and drug-induced alterations in BEC
membrane-lipid packing order were examined. Treatment of BEC with attached
yeasts with 0.1 and 0.2% chlorhexidine resulted in significant yeast
detachment after 90 and 60 min, respectively. Following pre-treatment of
BEC with greater than 0.1% chlorhexidine, yeast adherence was inhibited by
greater than 80%. In parallel experiments, the fluorescence anisotropy of
BEC labeled with fluorescent membrane probes--diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and
trimethylammonium DPH--was assessed following exposure to chlorhexidine.
The fluorescence anisotropy decreased with increasing concentrations of
chlorhexidine, which indicated that the drug decreased epithelial-cell
membrane-lipid packing order. Chlorhexidine concentrations that altered
epithelial-cell membrane-lipid packing order, particularly in superficial
regions, were similar to those drug concentrations required for detachment
of adherent yeasts. Similar results were obtained with a second antifungal,
nystatin A. While the effects of chlorhexidine on the buccal-cell
membrane-lipid packing order were not reversed by multiple washings, the
opposite situation occurred with nystatin A. The results suggest that
chlorhexidine-induced alterations of BEC membrane-lipid order may be
involved in the antifungal actions of the drug.
