Abstract
Purpose :
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the main polyphenol extracted from green tea and has been proved to have beneficial effects on human health, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer agents. In this study, we have evaluated the effects of EGCG on collagen degradation by corneal fibroblasts using a culture model in which human corneal fibroblasts were embedded in a collagen gel.
Methods :
Human corneal fibroblasts were cultured in a three-dimensional gel of type I collagen. Media containing IL-1β, plasminogen and with or without EGCG were overlaid on the gels. Collagen degradation was assessed by measurement of hydroxyproline in acid hydrolysates of culture supernatants. The production of urokinase (uPA) and MMP-1 was detected by immunoblot analysis and real time RT-PCR.
Results :
EGCG inhibited the IL-1β-induced collagen degradation by corneal fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. EGCG has been shown to attenuate IL-1β-induced uPA expression in corneal fibroblasts. On the other hand, EGCG did not affect IL-1b- induced MMP-1 expression in corneal fibroblasts.
Conclusions :
EGCG mitigates IL-1β-induced collagen degradation by corneal fibroblasts. Moreover, EGCG induces the suppresion of uPA exression by corneal fibroblasts. The inhibitory effect of collagen degradaion by EGCG could be mediated by the downregulation of uPA production by corneal fibroblasts.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.