Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of areca nut extract (ANE) on the expression of inflammatory bone-resorbing cytokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
Materials and Methods: Viability of treated cells was detemined by trypan blue staining method. The production of MCP-1 and GMCSF by PBMC was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of RANKL in PBMC was measured using immunofluorescence staning and confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Results: Cell viability of all ANE-treated groups for 2, 4 or 24 h was above 80%. The cell morphology of all experimental groups showed no significant change following treatments with ANE. After incubation for 4 or 24 h, 10, 20 and 40 μg/ml of ANE enhanced the production of MCP-1 when compared to the media-treated control (p < 0.05). ANE (10, 20 and 40 μg/ml) also increased the production of GMCSF at 24-h cultures (p < 0.05). In addition, the expression of RANKL by PBMC was enhanced by ANE following a 3-days incubation period.
Conclusions: ANE increased the expression level of osteoclastogenic cytokines, MCP-1, GMCSF and RANKL in PBMC. The results suggested that areca chewing may promote inflammatory bone resorption and thus may enhance the progression of periodontal disease.