[Changes of cytokines secreted by human oral mucosa keratinocytes from oral submucous fibrosis in vitro].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the significance of oral mucosa keratinocytes (KCs) and cytokines in the development of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF).

METHODS

KCs were obtained and cultured from the buccal mucosa of healthy subjects who did not chew areca nut and patients with OSF who chewed areca nut. Then radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were employed, and endothelin (ET) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) were quantified in culture supernatants.

RESULTS

The mean levels of ET and TGF beta 1 secreted by OSF-KC were 96.983 +/- 17.802 pg/ml and 4661.641 +/- 783.893 pg/ml respectively, which were higher than these secreted by NM-KC (P < 0.05); There was a positive correlation between the levels of ET and TGF beta 1 secreted by OSF-KC.

CONCLUSION

External stimuli such as areca nut components may induce the development of OSF by activating and stimulating the keratinocytes to secret a series of cytokines, including ET and TGF beta 1. It is speculated that ET and TGF beta 1 may be the contributing factors in the pathological features noted in OSF.