title: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a polyphenol component of green tea, suppresses both collagen production and collagenase activity in hepatic stellate cells.
abstract: Catechins such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin (EGC) are polyphenol components of green tea. EGCG is the major component and has been reported to possess a wide range of biological properties including anti-fibrogenic activity. In hepatic fibrosis, activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a central role. In this study, we investigated the effect of catechins, including EGCG, on collagen production and collagenase activity in rat primary HSCs and activated human HSC-derived TWNT-4 cells. EGCG (50 microM) suppressed type I collagen production in rat HSCs more than ECG (50 microM) did; however, EGC (50 microM) did not show suppressive effects. EGCG also inhibited both collagen production and collagenase activity (active matrix metalloproteinase-1 [MMP-1]) in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) production in TWNT-4 cells. Real-time PCR unexpectedly revealed that EGCG enhanced the transcription of type I collagen and TIMP-1, but did not affect the transcription of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and reduced the transcription MMP-1 in TWNT-4 cells. These findings demonstrated that EGCG inhibited collagen production regardless of enhanced collagen transcription and suppressed collagenase activity, and suggested that EGCG might have therapeutic potential for liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. nakamuta@intmed3.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamuta
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohjima
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotoh
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Munechika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enjoji
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000975:Antioxidants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013662:Tea; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D002392:Catechin; D003094:Collagen; C062669:epicatechin gallate; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D017364:Collagenases; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; C057580:gallocatechol