title: Effects of epigallocatechin gallate on the hemolysis induced by cyclosporine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hemolysis is one of the side effects of cyclosporine (CsA) therapy, in part due to, increased production of free radical species by CsA. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which acts as a highly efficient free radical scavenger, may have a protective effect on CsA-induced hemolysis. In this study, we measured the degree of hemolysis of as well as the amounts of hydrogen peroxide level and malondialdehyde produced by normal human erythrocytes (RBCs) incubated with CsA and with EGCG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human RBCs were incubated as follows. In group 1, 4.2 x 10(6)/mL RBCs were incubated with Cremophore EL. In group 2, the RBCs were incubated with only 167 microg/mL EGCG. In group 3, the RBCs were incubated with 1.67 mg/mL CsA. In group 4, the RBCs were incubated with CsA plus EGCG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The degree of hemolysis in group 2 (53.8 +/- 3.8) was significantly higher than that in group 1 (7.0 +/- 1.0). The degree of hemolysis in group 3 (86.2 +/- 2.2) was significantly higher than that in group 1 and group 2. The degree of hemolysis in group 4 (74.9 +/- 2.9) was significantly higher than in group 1 and in group 2, but lower than that in group 3. The hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels paralleled the degree of hemolysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that CsA can induce free radical-mediated hemolysis, which can be partially prevented with EGCG.
authors.affiliation: Dong San Kidney Institute, School of Medicine, and Institute for Medical Science, Keimyung University, 194 Dong San Dong, Daegu 700-712, Korea.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Mun
mesh_terms: D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000633:toxicity*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate