title: The Green Tea Catechin Epigallocatechin Gallate Ameliorates Graft-versus-Host Disease.
abstract: Allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a standard treatment for leukemia and other hematologic malignancies. The major complication of allo-HSCT is graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), a progressive inflammatory illness characterized by donor immune cells attacking the organs of the recipient. Current GVHD prevention and treatment strategies use immune suppressive drugs and/or anti-T cell reagents these can lead to increased risk of infections and tumor relapse. Recent research demonstrated that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a component found in green tea leaves at a level of 25-35% at dry weight, may be useful in the inhibition of GVHD due to its immune modulatory, anti-oxidative and anti-angiogenic capacities. In murine allo-HSCT recipients treated with EGCG, we found significantly reduced GVHD scores, reduced target organ GVHD and improved survival. EGCG treated allo-HSCT recipients had significantly higher numbers of regulatory T cells in GVHD target organs and in the blood. Furthermore, EGCG treatment resulted in diminished oxidative stress indicated by significant changes of glutathione blood levels as well as glutathione peroxidase in the colon. In summary, our study provides novel evidence demonstrating that EGCG ameliorates lethal GVHD and reduces GVHD-related target organ damage. Possible mechanisms are increased regulatory T cell numbers and reduced oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumorimmunology, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Westphal
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumorimmunology, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Aleixandria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McGeary
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumorimmunology, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rudloff
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumorimmunology, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilke
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumorimmunology, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Penack
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D064591:Allografts; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000975:Antioxidants; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; D011794:Quercetin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; C008922:piperine