Gene expression analysis of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in oral submucous fibrosis fibroblasts treated with arecoline

TL;DR

This study shows that curcumin and EGCG can reverse arecoline-induced changes in fibroblasts linked to oral submucous fibrosis.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that curcumin is more effective than EGCG in inhibiting EMT caused by arecoline in OSF fibroblasts.

Findings

Arecoline induces EMT by reducing E-cadherin and increasing N-cadherin, vimentin, α-SMA, Snail, and Twist.

Curcumin and EGCG significantly reverse arecoline-induced EMT markers and migration in OSF fibroblasts.

Curcumin shows greater efficacy than EGCG in inhibiting EMT in OSF fibroblasts.

Abstract

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), a potentially malignant disorder, is strongly linked to areca nut consumption, with arecoline inducing
epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in fibroblasts. Therfeore, it is of interest to investigate EMT marker expression in OSF
fibroblasts exposed to arecoline and assessed the inhibitory effects of curcumin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Primary
fibroblasts from OSF and normal mucosa were treated and EMT markers were analyzed by RT-qPCR, Western blotting and wound healing assays.
Arecoline decreased E-cadherin and increased N-cadherin, vimentin, α-SMA, Snail, Twist and migration rate, whereas co-treatment with
curcumin or EGCG significantly reversed these effects, with curcumin showing greater efficacy. Thus, we show that curcumin and EGCG
inhibit arecoline-induced EMT and may serve as potential therapeutic agents in OSF management.