Journal of Inflammation Research (Aug 2019)

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppresses neutrophil migration speed in a transgenic zebrafish model accompanied by reduced inflammatory mediators

  • Nguyen T,
  • Payan B,
  • Zambrano A,
  • Du Y,
  • Bondesson M,
  • Mohan C

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 231 – 239

Abstract

Read online

Thao Nguyen,1 Brittany Payan,1 Amarayca Zambrano,1 Yong Du,1 Maria Bondesson,2 Chandra Mohan11Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA; 2Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USACorrespondence: Chandra MohanDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3517 Cullen Blvd, Room 2004, Houston, TX 77204, USATel +1 713 743 3709Email [email protected]: Polyphenol catechins from green tea, particularly (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), exhibits numerous beneficial health effects, although the mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: In this study, the mechanism of EGCG-mediated healing in an experimentally injured zebrafish model was examined at the cellular and molecular level using confocal microscopy and gene expression analysis. Results: The mechanisms of action of EGCG were shown to involve: (1) reducing neutrophil response (accumulation, travel speed, and distance) and (2) downregulating the expression of IL-1β, TNFα, and related signaling pathways. As determined by dynamic time-lapse tracking studies, the local accumulation of neutrophils with high migration speeds after wounding (n=33 cells, v=0.020 μm/s, d=37.8 μm), underwent significant reduction following treatment with EGCG doses of 300 μM (n=22 cells, v=0.013 μm/s, d=39.5 μm) and 600 μM (n=18 cells, v=0.008 μm/s, d=9.53 μm). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction studies revealed that several signature genes in the IL-1β, TNFα, and related signaling pathways were downregulated after EGCG treatment. Conclusion: The convenience, transparency, and simplicity of the zebrafish model facilitate tracking of fluorescent neutrophils in real time, in order to monitor inflammation, and assess the impact of therapeutic agents.Keywords: green tea, innate immunity, animal models, IL-1, TNF

Keywords