Low-power laser irradiation inhibits arecoline-induced fibrosis: an in vitro study

Research Summary

Oral fibrosis: Low-power laser for disease associated with areca nut

Low-power laser irradiation (LPLI) could treat a debilitating pre-malignant, fibrotic condition of the mouth. Most cases of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) are in South Asia and are associated with areca nut chewing. The compound arecoline in the nut is thought to be involved in its development. Yan-Hsiung Wang, Huey-Er Lee and colleagues of Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Medical University tested the effects of LPLI on fibroblasts, cells producing connective tissue, from the human gum, which they stimulated with arecoline. Applying LPLI can activate a key cell-regulating enzyme, adenylyl cyclase, reduced the expression of fibrosis-related genes. LPLI’s effect was blocked when the cells were pretreated with an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor. LPLI may inhibit the effects of arecoline via adenylyl cyclase and could be used as an antifibrotic therapy in the future.