Abstract
Myofibroblasts play an important role in the development of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). In the current study, we investigate the effect of curcumin on growth and apoptosis of myofibroblasts derived from human oral mucosa. Myofibroblasts were generated by incubating fibroblasts, obtained from human oral mucosa, with transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β 1). MTT, PI staining, and FACS assays were used to investigate curcumin's effect on proliferation and cell cycle of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Annexin V/PI binding and FACS assays were used to examine apoptosis of myofibroblasts, Western blotting to determine the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay was employed to examine the levels of collagen type I and III in the supernatants of myofibroblasts. Curcumin inhibits proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts; it also disturbs the cell cycle, induces apoptosis and decreases the generation of collagen type I and III in myofibroblasts, which are more sensitive to its effects than fibroblasts. Curcumin induces apoptosis in myofibroblasts by down-regulating the Bcl-2/ Bax ratio. Our results demonstrate the antifibrotic effect of curcumin in vitro. It may therefore be a candidate for the treatment of OSF.
Highlights
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic inflammatory disease, and has been defined by WHO as one of the precancerous conditions (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2005)
Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) binding and FACS assays were used to examine apoptosis of myofibroblasts, Western blotting to determine the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay was employed to examine the levels of collagen type I and III in the supernatants of myofibroblasts
This effect is more pronounced in myofibroblasts; the growth inhibitory rate for myofibroblasts incubated with curcumin was double of that for the treated fibroblasts (Figure 2)
Summary
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic inflammatory disease, and has been defined by WHO as one of the precancerous conditions (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2005). An imbalance in collagen synthesis and degradation in oral mucosa is generally believed to be the main cause of OSF;The disease is considered a type of collagen metabolism disorder (Rajalalitha and Vali, 2005). We investigate the effect of curcumin on growth and apoptosis of myofibroblasts derived from human oral mucosa. Methods: Myofibroblasts were generated by incubating fibroblasts, obtained from human oral mucosa, with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Results: Curcumin inhibits proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts; it disturbs the cell cycle, induces apoptosis and decreases the generation of collagen type I and III in myofibroblasts, which are more sensitive to its effects than fibroblasts. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the antifibrotic effect of curcumin in vitro It may be a candidate for the treatment of OSF
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
