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.

Universal allogeneic CAR T cells engineered with Sleeping Beauty transposons and CRISPR-CAS9 for cancer immunotherapy

“…Simultaneous co-transfection of CRISPR-Cas9 RNP and linear dsDNA template in human T cells S7. [52][53][54] (C) Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of mice from all groups (n = 4-6 mice); log rank test; *p < 0.05. (D) Histopathology of intestine, liver, and lung tissues obtained from all groups.…”

Green Tea Polyphenol-Sensitive Calcium Signaling in Immune T Cell Function

“…Green tea is produced from fresh tea leaves; however, steaming or pan-frying process is used further for enzyme deactivation, which precludes the oxidation of polyphenols termed catechins present in the tea leaves (6,12). Tea mainly contains catechins that roughly contribute 30-40% in brewed desiccated green tea including (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), and (-)-epicatechin (EC) (5,6,12,(16)(17)(18)(19). EGCG is the utmost catechin available in green tea and roughly embodies 50-80% of catechins in a 200-300 mg/brewed cup of green tea (20).…”

Post Transplantation Bilirubin Nanoparticles Ameliorate Murine Graft Versus Host Disease via a Reduction of Systemic and Local Inflammation

“…While the pharmacologic blockade of NADPH oxidase complex to reduce the production of ROS after transplantation ameliorated clinical GVHD and survival ( 22 ), the deficiency of Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), scavengers for ROS, in donor cells exacerbated GVHD. More directly, cyclopentylamino carboxymethylthiazolylindole (NecroX)-7 has attenuated acute GVHD by inhibiting the formation of mitochondria specific ROS/reactive nitrogen species, in turn, preventing the release of High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) ( 23 ). These studies demonstrate that it may be feasible to intervene the ROS formation from donor cells as well as initial tissue injury, thus preventing acute GVHD.…”