Areca nut extracts increased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-1α in human immune cells via oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Areca nut has been identified as a carcinogen. Inflammation reveals a strong link with tumourigenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of areca nut on the expression of the key pro-inflammatory mediators involved in malignancy, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin (IL)-1α and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), by human immune cells. The role of oxidative stress was also examined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated with extracts of ripe areca nut (rANE) or tender areca nut (tANE). Expression of pro-inflammatory mediators was assayed using Western blotting, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, competitive enzyme immunoassay or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Activity of NF-κB was evaluated using an ELISA-based method.

RESULTS

Both rANE and tANE enhanced the expression of COX-2, PGE2 and IL-1α by PBMCs. The secretion of PGE2 was induced by rANE (≤20-40μgml(-1)) and tANE (≤160μgml(-1)) significantly in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, the above enhancing effects of ANEs could be attenuated by antioxidants. ANEs also increased the nuclear expression of the redox-sensitive factor NF-κB.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate that ANEs induced the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators mainly through the induction of oxidative stress and implicate the possibility of using antioxidants for disease prevention.