Green Tea Catechin Metabolites Exert Immunoregulatory Effects on CD4(+) T Cell and Natural Killer Cell Activities.
Tea catechins, such as (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), have been shown to effectively enhance immune activity and prevent cancer, although the underlying mechanism is unclear. Green tea catechins are instead converted to catechin metabolites in the intestine. Here, we show that these green tea catechin metabolites enhance CD4(+) T cell activity as well as natural killer (NK) cell activity. Our data suggest that the absence of a 4'-hydroxyl on this phenyl group (B ring) is important for the effect on immune activity. In particular, 5-(3',5'-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone (EGC-M5), a major metabolite of EGCG, not only increased the activity of CD4(+) T cells but also enhanced the cytotoxic activity of NK cells in vivo. These data suggest that EGC-M5 might show immunostimulatory activity.
Division of Applied Biological Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University , 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.|Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Engineering, Daegu University , Gyeongsan 712-714, Korea.
Yoon Hee
YH
Kim
Division of Applied Biological Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University , 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Yeong-Seon
YS
Won
Division of Applied Biological Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University , 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Xue
X
Yang
Division of Applied Biological Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University , 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Motofumi
M
Kumazoe
Division of Applied Biological Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University , 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Shuya
S
Yamashita
Food Research Laboratories, Mitsui Norin Company, Limited , 223-1 Miyabara, Fujieda-shi, Shizuoka 426-0133, Japan.
Aya
A
Hara
Food Research Laboratories, Mitsui Norin Company, Limited , 223-1 Miyabara, Fujieda-shi, Shizuoka 426-0133, Japan.
Akiko
A
Takagaki
Food Research Laboratories, Mitsui Norin Company, Limited , 223-1 Miyabara, Fujieda-shi, Shizuoka 426-0133, Japan.
Keiichi
K
Goto
Food Research Laboratories, Mitsui Norin Company, Limited , 223-1 Miyabara, Fujieda-shi, Shizuoka 426-0133, Japan.
Fumio
F
Nanjo
Division of Applied Biological Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University , 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Hirofumi
H
Tachibana
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002392:Catechin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013662:Tea / Q000378:metabolism
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin
5-(3′,5′-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone; CD4+ T cells; EGCG; NK cell cytotoxicity; tea catechin metabolites