Effects of arecoline and nicotine on the expression of hTERT in oral keratinocytes / 中华口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of arecoline and nicotine on the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and protein in cultured normal human oral keratinocytes (KC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The experiments were divided into arecoline group, arecoline/nicotine group and control group. The hTERT mRNA and protein expression of KC was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Arecoline could induce the hTERT mRNA and protein expression of KC in a dose dependent manner, the hTERT mRNA and protein expression of KC was higher in 0.030, 0.060, 0.090 g/L arecoline group than control group (P < 0.001). Nicotine (0.025 g/L) increased hTERT mRNA and protein expression of KC induced by arecoline.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Arecoline could increase the expression of hTERT mRNA and protein in oral keratinocytes. Nicotine had a synergistic effect on arecoline. hTERT over-expression induced by arecoline and nicotine may play an important role in the malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis.</p>