Areca nut extract suppresses T-cell activation and interferon-γ production via the induction of oxidative stress

Areca quid chewing is a major risk factor associated with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and oral cancer. Experimental evidence indicates that immune deterioration is associated with the pathophysiology of OSF and oral cancer. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) is shown to play a role in the cytotoxic and genotoxic effect induced by areca nut extracts (ANE) in oral cells. The present studies investigated the effects of ANE on T-cell reactivity and the role of ROS in ANE effects. Treatment of splenocytes with ANE induced a marked cytotoxic effect, and suppressed the production of IL-2 and IFN-γ, whereas the production of IL-4 was unaffected. The ANE-mediated cytotoxicity, and suppression of IFN-γ and IL-2 production were attenuated by the presence of antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Moreover, flow cytometric analysis demonstrated an increase in cellular ROS levels in splenic T-cells treated with ANE, which was also attenuated by the presence of NAC. Concordantly, the cellular level of glutathione was diminished by ANE in splenic T-cells pretreated with NAC. Collectively, these results demonstrated that ANE markedly suppressed T-cell activation and Th1 cytokine production, which was mediated, at least in part, by the induction of oxidative stress.