Interleukin-13 contributes to the occurrence of oral submucosal fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic progressive fibrosis disease that affects in oral mucosal tissues. Interleukin (IL)-13 has been implicated in the development of fibrosis in multiple organs. Indeed, it contributes to diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, liver cirrhosis among others. Currently, its expression in OSF and the specific mechanisms are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IL-13 in OSF and further explore whether IL-13 regulates-polarization of M2-macrophages in OSF. Initially, in the tissues of patients with OSF, we observed a high expression of M2-macrophages and IL-13 protein. Additionally, we found a correlation between the expression of IL-13 and the stage of OSF. Arecoline inhibited the proliferation of fibroblasts (FBs) and promoted IL-13 production in vitro. Furthermore, our observations revealed that M2-macrophages increased upon co-culturing M0-macrophages with supernatants containing the IL-13 cytokine. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that arecoline stimulates FBs leading to increased secretion of IL-13, which in turn IL-13 leads to polarization of M2-macrophages and promotes the occurrence of OSF. This suggests that IL-13 may be a potential therapeutic target of OSF.

Automated summary

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic progressive fibrosis disease that affects the oral mucosal tissues. The study investigates the role of interleukin (IL)-13 in OSF and whether it regulates the polarization of M2-macrophages. High expression of M2-macrophages and IL-13 protein was observed in OSF tissues, and there was a correlation between IL-13 expression and the stage of OSF. Arecoline was found to stimulate fibroblasts and increase IL-13 secretion, which in turn promotes the polarization of M2-macrophages and the occurrence of OSF.