Tea catechins attenuate ventricular remodeling and graft arterial diseases in murine cardiac allografts.
OBJECTIVE
Tea catechins have many biological functions; these effects are induced by the suppression of several inflammatory factors. However, effects of catechins on cardiac allograft rejection have not been well investigated.


RESULTS
To test the hypothesis that catechins can attenuate ventricular remodeling and graft arterial diseases (GAD) in cardiac rejection, we orally administered catechins to murine cardiac recipients. We analyzed the mechanisms using immunohistochemistry, RNase protection, gel mobility shift, and cell proliferation assays. Although severe myocardial cell infiltration, fibrosis, and GAD with enhancement of inflammatory factors were observed in untreated class II mismatch allografts at day 60, catechins attenuated these changes with altered Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and suppressed NF-kappaB activation and cell proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
Catechins are potent agents for the suppression of chronic rejection because they are critically involved in the suppression of proinflammatory signaling pathways.
Suzuki
Jun-ichi
J
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan. jsuzuki.cvm@tmd.ac.jp
Ogawa
Masahito
M
Sagesaka
Yuko M
YM
Isobe
Mitsuaki
M
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002392:Catechin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D013662:Tea; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin