Epigallocatechin gallate reduces human monocyte mobility and adhesion in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
Monocytes/macrophages are an important population of immune inflammatory cells that have diverse effector functions in which their mobility and adhesion play a very relevant role. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea, has been reported to have anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities, but its effects on monocytes remain to be determined. Here we investigated the effects of EGCG on the migration and adhesion of monocytes.


METHODS
We used a human monocyte cell line (THP-1) to analyse the effects of treatment with EGCG under non-cytotoxic conditions on the expression levels of the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and of the MCP-1 receptor (CCR2) and on the activation of beta1 integrin. A functional validation was carried out by evaluating the inhibitory effect of EGCG on monocyte adhesiveness and migration in vitro.


RESULTS
Treatment of THP-1 cells with EGCG decreased MCP-1 and CCR2 gene expression, together with MCP-1 secretion and CCR2 expression at the cell surface. EGCG also inhibited beta1 integrin activation. The effects on these molecular targets were in agreement with the EGCG-induced inhibition of THP-1 migration in response to MCP-1 and adhesion to fibronectin.


CONCLUSIONS
Under our experimental conditions, EGCG treatment inhibited the migration and adhesion of monocytes. These inhibitory effects of EGCG on monocyte function should be considered as a promising new anti-inflammatory response with a potential therapeutic role in the treatment of inflammation-dependent diseases.
Melgarejo
Esther
E
Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, and CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Málaga, Spain.
Medina
Miguel Angel
MA
Sánchez-Jiménez
Francisca
F
Urdiales
José Luis
JL
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D054390:Receptors, CCR2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D019012:Integrin beta1; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate