# 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.

## Key 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.