title: Thrombin-stimulated connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) production in human buccal mucosal fibroblasts: Inhibition by epigallocatechin-3-gallate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) is associated with many human fibrotic disorders and was found to overexpress in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). OSF is the result of persistent chemical irritation and microtrauma to oral mucosa from areca nut. Microtrauma could lead to the release of thrombin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thrombin-induced CCN2 expression and its signaling pathways were assessed by Western blot analyses in human buccal mucosal fibroblasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thrombin stimulated CCN2 synthesis in buccal mucosal fibroblasts via activation of protease-activated receptor-1. Pretreatment with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 inhibitor thioredoxin, and c-Jun NH(2) -terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 significantly reduced thrombin-induced CCN2 synthesis. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate completely inhibited thrombin-induced CCN2 synthesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thrombin produced by microtrauma may contribute to the pathogenesis of OSF by up-regulating CCN2 expression. This effect could be mediated by protease-activated receptor-1, reactive oxygen species, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, and c-Jun NH(2) -terminal kinase pathways and prevented by epigallocatechin-3-gallate.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Medicine and Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jenny Zwei-Chieng
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wan-Hsien
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yi-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Hsin-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mark Yen-Ping
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001114:Areca; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D048848:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5 / Q000378:metabolism; D008409:Mastication; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D044463:Receptor, PAR-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D006490:Hemostatics; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D044463:Receptor, PAR-1; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048848:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5; D013917:Thrombin; C040308:phenylalanyl-prolyl-arginine-chloromethyl ketone