Peeradech Thichanpiang. The effects of green tea polyphenol (-----)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on H2O2-induced cell death in arpe-19 cells . Master's Degree(Neurosciences). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
The effects of green tea polyphenol (-----)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on H2O2-induced cell death in arpe-19 cells
Abstract:
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer of cuboidal cells located in the retina. It provides many functions essential to the visual process. The disruption of these processes and defects in the RPE contribute to the initiation and/or progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Oxidative stress is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD. Several studies suggest that increasing the body’s defenses against oxidative stress with specific antioxidants and mineral supplements can preserve vision in AMD patients. (—)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenolic flavonoids in green tea has been shown to possess strong antioxidant activity. In this study, the protective role of EGCG against exogenous reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell death in ARPE-19 cells was demonstrated. H2O2 significantly decreased cell viability and increased the number of chromatin condensed nuclei. Pre-treating the cells with EGCG helped to ameliorate the toxic effects of H2O2. In addition, H2O2 up-regulated Bax and down-regulated Bcl-2 expression and therefore, induced caspase-3 expression, whereas cells pre-treated with EGCG up-regulated Bcl-2 expression and inactivated caspase-3 expression. The findings suggest that EGCG has an anti-apoptotic activity to protect H2O2-induced cell death in ARPE-19 cells. In conclusion, EGCG may be used as a new potential therapeutic agent for some diseases associated with oxidative stress-induced RPE cell death, particularly AMD