Arecoline stimulated early growth response-1 production in human buccal fibroblasts: Suppression by epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

[oral submucous fibrosis]

Early growth response-1 (Egr-1 ) protein plays an important role in many human fibrotic diseases . Areca nut chewing is the most important risk factor of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF ).Egr-1 protein expression in OSF was examined using antibody to Egr-1 . Arecoline-induced Egr-1 expression and its signaling pathways were assessed by Western blot analyses in human buccal mucosal fibroblasts (BMFs ).Elevated Egr-1 staining was observed in epithelial cells , fibroblast , and inflammatory cells in 7 of 10 OSF cases . Arecoline , a main alkaloid found in the areca nut , stimulated Egr-1 synthesis in BMFs . Pretreatment with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine , c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinase inhibitor SP 6 00125 , and extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor PD 98059 significantly reduced arecoline-induced Egr-1 synthesis . Epigallocatechin-3 -gallate (EGCG ) inhibited arecoline-induced Egr-1 synthesis and collagen gel contraction in a dose-responsive manner .Constitutive Egr-1 expression during areca nut chewing may play a role in the pathogenesis of OSF . EGCG could be a good candidate for prevention or treatment of OSF . © 2014 Wiley Periodicals , Inc . Head Neck 00 : 000 -000 , 2014 .