Inhibitory Effect of (−)-Epigallocatechin 3-Gallate, a Polyphenol of Green Tea, on Neutrophil Chemotaxis in Vitro and in Vivo

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 52; no. 14; pp. 4571 - 4576
• Main Authors: Takano, Katsuhiko, Nakaima, Keiko, Nitta, Makoto, Shibata, Futoshi, Nakagawa, Hideo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 14.07.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; calcium; Camellia sinensis - chemistry; Catechin - analogs & derivatives; Catechin - pharmacology; Chemokine CXCL1; chemokines; Chemokines - biosynthesis; Chemokines, CXC - biosynthesis; Chemokines, CXC - pharmacology; chemotaxis; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte - drug effects; Coffee, tea and other stimulative beverage industries; cytochemistry; cytokines; fibroblasts; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; green tea; immunosuppression (physiological); in vitro studies; inflammation; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - pathology; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - biosynthesis; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - pharmacology; Male; neutrophils; Neutrophils - drug effects; polyphenols; Rats; Rats, Wistar; In vivo; Polyphenol; CINC-1; Inflammation; Proanthocyanidin; Neutrophil; (-)-Epigallocatechin 3-gallate; In vitro; Green tea; chemotaxis
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf0355194

The effect of (−)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol of green tea, on neutrophil migration has been studied using multiwell-type Boyden chambers in vitro and a fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled ovalbumin (FITC−OVA)-induced rat allergic inflammation model in vivo. EGCG inhibited rat neutrophil chemotaxis toward cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1) in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, CINC-1-induced neutrophil chemotaxis was suppressed by the pretreatment of rat neutrophils with EGCG at the concentration over 15 μg/mL. EGCG caused concentration-dependent suppression of the transient increase in CINC-1-induced intracellular free calcium level in both rat neutrophils and rat CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2)-transfected HEK 293 cells. EGCG inhibited CINC-1 production by IL-1β-stimulated rat fibroblasts (NRK-49F cells) and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rat macrophages at the concentration over 50 μg/mL, a comparatively high concentration. Oral administration of EGCG (1.0 mg or 1.5 mg/rat) at 1 h before the challenge with FITC−OVA suppressed neutrophil infiltration into the air pouch (inflammatory site) in the air-pouch type FITC−OVA-induced allergic inflammation in rats. Chemokine levels in the pouch fluids, however, were not influenced by EGCG administration. The results suggest that EGCG suppressed neutrophil infiltration by a direct action on neutrophils, but not by indirect actions, including the suppression of chemokine production at the inflammatory site. Keywords: (−)-Epigallocatechin 3-gallate; neutrophil; CINC-1; chemotaxis; inflammation