EGCG mediated downregulation of NF-AT and macrophage infiltration in experimental hepatic steatosis.
METHODS
Increased fat consumption in industrialized countries has resulted in hepatic steatosis that upregulates atherogenic aspirant genes, leading to atherosclerosis and mortality. Although extensive studies have been carried out to elucidate the atheroprotective efficacy of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the effect of EGCG on hepatic steatosis has not been studied comprehensively. Hence, the current study was designed to find out the effect of EGCG on hepatic events that prelude atherosclerosis with special reference to macrophage infiltration.


RESULTS
Male albino rats of Wistar strain were used in this study. Basic biochemical assays along with the protein expression of CAMs, NF-κB, TNF-α and NF-AT were assayed in the current study. EGCG supplementation significantly reverted the alterations in both biochemical and histological parameters and is shown to reduce the TNF-α mediated NF-AT expression and thereby its downstream targets like ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression to a greater extent than NF-κB mediated downstream targets like VCAM-1 and P-selectin in hypercholesterolemic rat liver.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that EGCG influences the early events of atherosclerosis that occur; thereby modulating the NF-AT pathway and thereby mitigating the hypercholesterolemic stress.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, DR ALM PG IBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India.
Thulasi Raman
TR
Krishnan
Department of Medical Biochemistry, DR ALM PG IBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India.
Prema
P
Velusamy
Department of Medical Biochemistry, DR ALM PG IBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India.
Ashokkumar
A
Srinivasan
Department of Medical Biochemistry, DR ALM PG IBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India.
Thellamudhu
T
Ganesan
Department of Medical Biochemistry, DR ALM PG IBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India.
Suresh
S
Mangaiah
Department of Medical Biochemistry, DR ALM PG IBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India.
Kishorekumar
K
Narasimhan
Department of Medical Biochemistry, DR ALM PG IBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India.
Lakshmi Narasimhan
LN
Chakrapani
Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, India.
Thanka
T
J
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Research and Bio Medical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, India.
Charles Emmanuel Jebaraj
CE
Walter
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Research and Bio Medical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, India.
Sankari
S
Durairajan
Department of Pathology, DR ALM PG IBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India.
Sanddhya
S
Nathakattur Saravanabavan
Department of Medical Biochemistry, DR ALM PG IBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Taramani, Chennai, India. Electronic address: pkalaiselvi2011@gmail.com.
Kalaiselvi
K
Periandavan
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D016328:NF-kappa B; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate; Green tea; Hepatic damage; High cholesterol diet; Hypercholesterolemia; Macrophage infiltration