Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane: modulation of NRF2-mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway in oral fibrosis

Oral Submucous Fibrosis is a potentially malignant disorder caused by habitual areca nut chewing, which contributes to the dispersion of active alkaloids into subepithelial tissues, stimulating excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Various treatment modalities are available; however, their eff...

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Main Authors: Pooja Narain Adtani, Rajasekaran Subbarayan, Rupendra Shrestha, Walid Elsayed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Estadual Paulista 2024-04-01
Series:Brazilian Dental Science
Online Access:https://ojs.ict.unesp.br/index.php/cob/article/view/4172
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author Pooja Narain Adtani
Rajasekaran Subbarayan
Rupendra Shrestha
Walid Elsayed
author_facet Pooja Narain Adtani
Rajasekaran Subbarayan
Rupendra Shrestha
Walid Elsayed
author_sort Pooja Narain Adtani
collection DOAJ
description Oral Submucous Fibrosis is a potentially malignant disorder caused by habitual areca nut chewing, which contributes to the dispersion of active alkaloids into subepithelial tissues, stimulating excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Various treatment modalities are available; however, their efficacy in inhibiting fibrosis progression remains limited. Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate found abundantly in cruciferous plants, is known to have effective antifibrotic properties. Objective: The present study investigated the antifibrotic effect of SFN via phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT-1), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in arecoline (AER) induced fibrosis in human gingival fibroblasts [HGFs]. Material and Methods: MTT assay determined the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of AER and SFN at 24h in the HGF cell line. Expression levels of transforming growth factor B1 (TGFB1), collagen type 1 alpha 2 (COL1A2), hydroxyproline (HYP), PI3, AKT, mTOR, and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) were assessed post-AER and SFN treatment using qPCR and western blot analysis. Results: The findings of the study revealed that AER elicited a stimulatory effect, upregulating TGFB1, COL1A2, HYP, PI3K, AKT, and mTOR and downregulating NRF2 expression. Conversely, SFN treatment significantly upregulated NRF2, inhibiting TGFB1 mediated PI3/ AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusion: These observations suggest that SFN can be used as a promising synergistic antifibrotic agent to combat fibrogenesis via the non-Smad pathway. KEYWORDS Arecoline; NRF2; Oral submucous fibrosis; PI3/AKT/mTOR; Sulforaphane.
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spelling doaj-art-22baeceb78ce44eb9cbbcb53e5d9cd5c2025-08-22T14:49:15ZengUniversidade Estadual PaulistaBrazilian Dental Science2178-60112024-04-0127110.4322/bds.2024.e4172Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane: modulation of NRF2-mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway in oral fibrosisPooja Narain Adtani0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5320-271XRajasekaran Subbarayan 1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5890-5273Rupendra Shrestha 2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6804-6070Walid Elsayed 3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6647-516XGulf Medical University, College of Dentistry, Department of Basic Medical and Dental Sciences. Ajman, United Arab Emirates.Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Center for Advanced Biotherapeutics and Regenerative Medicine. Chennai, India.Anka Analytica, Research and Collaboration. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Gulf Medical University, College of Dentistry, Department of Basic Medical and Dental Sciences. Ajman, United Arab Emirates. Oral Submucous Fibrosis is a potentially malignant disorder caused by habitual areca nut chewing, which contributes to the dispersion of active alkaloids into subepithelial tissues, stimulating excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Various treatment modalities are available; however, their efficacy in inhibiting fibrosis progression remains limited. Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate found abundantly in cruciferous plants, is known to have effective antifibrotic properties. Objective: The present study investigated the antifibrotic effect of SFN via phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT-1), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in arecoline (AER) induced fibrosis in human gingival fibroblasts [HGFs]. Material and Methods: MTT assay determined the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of AER and SFN at 24h in the HGF cell line. Expression levels of transforming growth factor B1 (TGFB1), collagen type 1 alpha 2 (COL1A2), hydroxyproline (HYP), PI3, AKT, mTOR, and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) were assessed post-AER and SFN treatment using qPCR and western blot analysis. Results: The findings of the study revealed that AER elicited a stimulatory effect, upregulating TGFB1, COL1A2, HYP, PI3K, AKT, and mTOR and downregulating NRF2 expression. Conversely, SFN treatment significantly upregulated NRF2, inhibiting TGFB1 mediated PI3/ AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusion: These observations suggest that SFN can be used as a promising synergistic antifibrotic agent to combat fibrogenesis via the non-Smad pathway. KEYWORDS Arecoline; NRF2; Oral submucous fibrosis; PI3/AKT/mTOR; Sulforaphane. https://ojs.ict.unesp.br/index.php/cob/article/view/4172
spellingShingle Pooja Narain Adtani
Rajasekaran Subbarayan
Rupendra Shrestha
Walid Elsayed
Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane: modulation of NRF2-mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway in oral fibrosis
Brazilian Dental Science
title Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane: modulation of NRF2-mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway in oral fibrosis
title_full Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane: modulation of NRF2-mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway in oral fibrosis
title_fullStr Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane: modulation of NRF2-mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway in oral fibrosis
title_full_unstemmed Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane: modulation of NRF2-mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway in oral fibrosis
title_short Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane: modulation of NRF2-mediated PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway in oral fibrosis
title_sort therapeutic potential of sulforaphane modulation of nrf2 mediated pi3 akt mtor pathway in oral fibrosis
url https://ojs.ict.unesp.br/index.php/cob/article/view/4172
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