Protective effects of epigallocatechin gallate after UV irradiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the protective effects of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against UV irradiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.


METHODS
UV irradiation was produced by a UV lamp for 30 seconds with an irradiance of 3.3 mW/cm2. After 5 minutes and 1 hour, we administered different concentrations of EGCG (0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 uM). The cell count was determined under a microscope using a counting chamber and the cell activity was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.


RESULTS
The cell count of cultured human RPE cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administration group, compared with the non-administrated group. The cell activity of the cultured human RPE cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administration group and was increased in a dose-dependent way as determined by the MTT assay.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of EGCG increased the cell count and the cell activity after UV irradiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells; this suggests that EGCG provided protection against UV damage in cultured human retinal pigmented epithelial cells.
Department of Ophthalmology, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.
Seong-Won
SW
Yang
Byung Rae
BR
Lee
Jae-Woong
JW
Koh
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D000975:Antioxidants; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate