Green Tea Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Green Tea, including details on benefits, antioxidants, weight loss, diet, side effects. | ||||||||
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Catechins prevent vascular smooth muscle cell invasion by inhibiting MT1-MMP activity and MMP-2 expression.El Bedoui J, Oak MH, Anglard P, Schini-Kerth VB Pharmacologie et Physico-Chimie des Interactions Cellulaires et Moléculaires, UMR CNRS 7034, France. OBJECTIVE: Regular consumption of green tea is associated with a reduced risk of mortality due to coronary diseases and cancer. The present study examined whether a green tea extract (GTE) inhibits activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), a major collagenase involved in vascular remodeling of atherosclerotic plaques, in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS AND RESULTS: The expression of MMP-2 was assessed by Northern and Western blot analyses in human aortic VSMCs. MMP-2 activity was evaluated by zymography, membrane-type1-MMP (MT1-MMP, MMP-14) activity by an enzymatic assay, and cell invasion by a modified Boyden chamber assay. The thrombin-induced activation of secreted MMP-2 was abolished by GTE and the green tea polyphenols (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG). GTE reduced the expression of MMP-2 mRNA and protein. GTE, EGCG and ECG directly inhibited cell-associated MT1-MMP activity, the physiological activator of MMP-2, in a reversible manner. Thrombin-stimulated VSMCs invasion was abolished by EGCG and ECG, and reduced by GTE. CONCLUSIONS: GTE inhibits thrombin-induced VSMCs invasion most likely by preventing MMP-2 expression and its activation by a direct inhibition of MT1-MMP. The ability of green tea to prevent cell invasion and matrix degradation might contribute to its protective effect on atherosclerosis and cancer. Published 11 July 2005 in Cardiovasc Res, 67(2): 317-25.
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