title: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate protects motor neurons and regulates glutamate level.
abstract: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major component of green tea polyphenols which displays potential properties of anticancer and neuroprotection. Here we show that protection of motor neuron by EGCG is associated with regulating glutamate level in organotypic culture of rat spinal cord. In this model, EGCG blocked glutamate excitotoxicity caused by threohydroxyaspartate, an inhibitor of glutamate transporter. This property of EGCG may be not due to its intrinsic antioxidative activity, because another antioxidant could not regulate glutamate level under the same condition. These results show that EGCG may be a potential therapeutic candidate for neurodegenerative diseases involving glutamate excitotoxicity such as ALS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Jixu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yaqiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Yansu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Weisong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Mengmeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate