(-)­Epigallocatechin­3­O­gallate upregulates the expression levels of miR­6757­3p, a suppressor of fibrosis­related gene expression, in extracellular vesicles derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

As pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a severe interstitial pulmonary disease, has such a poor prognosis, the development of prevention and treatment methods is imperative. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), one of the major catechins in green tea, exerts an antifibrotic effect, although its mechanism remains unclear. Recently, it has been reported that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) transported by extracellular vesicles (EVs) from vascular endothelial cells (VECs) are involved in PF. In the present study, the effects of EGCG on the expression of miRNAs in EVs derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were assessed and miRNAs with antifibrotic activity were identified. miRNA microarray analysis revealed that EGCG modulated the expression levels of 31 miRNAs (a total of 27 miRNAs were upregulated, and 4 miRNAs were downregulated.) in EVs from HUVECs. Furthermore, TargetScan analysis indicated that miR-6757-3p in particular, which exhibited the highest degree of change, may target transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) receptor 1 (TGFBR1). To evaluate the effects of miR-6757-3p on TGFBR1 expression, human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) were transfected with an miR-6757-3p mimic. The results demonstrated that the miR-6757-3p mimic downregulated the expression of TGFBR1 as well the expression levels of fibrosis-related genes including fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin in TGF-ß-treated HFL-1 cells. In summary, EGCG upregulated the expression levels of miR-6757-3p, which may target TGFBR1 and downregulate fibrosis-related genes, in EVs derived from VECs.

Procyanidin C1 Inhibits Melanoma Cell Growth by Activating 67-kDa Laminin Receptor Signaling.

SCOPE: Procyanidin C1 (PC1) is an epicatechin trimer found mainly in grapes that is reported to provide several health benefits. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying these benefits. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms by which PC1 operates. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR) is identified as a cell surface receptor of PC1, with a Kd value of 2.8 µm. PC1 induces an inhibitory effect on growth, accompanied by dephosphorylation of the C-kinase potentiated protein phosphatase-1 inhibitor protein of 17 kDa (CPI17) and myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) proteins, followed by actin cytoskeleton remodeling in melanoma cells. These actions are mediated by protein kinase A (PKA) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activation once PC1 is bound to 67LR. CONCLUSION: It is demonstrated that PC1 elicits melanoma cell growth inhibition by activating the 67LR/PKA/PP2A/CPI17/MRLC pathway.

Saturated fatty acid attenuates anti-obesity effect of green tea.

Green tea and its major polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) have suppressive effect on dietary obesity. However, it remains unsolved what type of diet on which they exhibit high or low anti-obesity effect. In the present study, we investigated whether anti-obesity effect of green tea differs depending on composition of fats or fatty acids that consist high-fat (HF) diet in mouse model. Green tea extract (GTE) intake dramatically suppressed weight gain and fat accumulation induced by olive oil-based HF diet, whereas the effects on those induced by beef tallow-based HF diet were weak. GTE also effectively suppressed obesity induced by unsaturated fatty acid-enriched HF diet with the stronger effect compared with that induced by saturated fatty acid-enriched HF diet. These differences would be associated with the increasing action of GTE on expression of PPARδ signaling pathway-related genes in the white adipose tissue. Expressions of genes relating to EGCG signaling pathway that is critical for exhibition of physiological effects of EGCG were also associated with the different effects of GTE. Here, we show that anti-obesity effect of GTE differs depending on types of fats or fatty acids that consist HF diet and could be attenuated by saturated fatty acid.