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

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.