Abstract
The IκB kinase complex (IKK) mediates activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). We previously showed that green tea polyphenols inhibited endotoxin-mediated tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) production by blocking NF-κB activation. In this study, we evaluated whether green tea polyphenols inhibit NF-κB by blocking IKK activity. We assessed IKK activity by detecting changes in phosphorylation of an IκBα-glutathioneS-transferase (GST) fusion protein. IEC-6 cells pretreated with an extract of green tea polyphenols (GrTPs; 0–0.4 mg/ml) had diminished TNFα-induced IKK and NF-κB activity. Of the various GrTPs, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was the most potent inhibitor. We next examined whether EGCG inhibited activated IKK. In cytosolic extracts of TNFα-stimulated cells, EGCG inhibited phosphorylation of IκBα-GST (IC50 > 18 μM) consistent with inhibition of IKK activity. Using other polyphenols, we showed that the gallate group was essential for inhibition, and antioxidants were ineffective in blocking activated IKK. Importantly, EGCG decreased IKK activity in cytosolic extracts of NIK transiently transfected cells. This latter finding showed that our findings were not related to nonspecific kinase activity. In conclusion, EGCG is an effective inhibitor of IKK activity. This may explain, at least in part, some of the reported anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of green tea.
Footnotes
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This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants KO8-DK02401-01A, MO1-RR02602, IPO1-NS31220-01A1, and RO1-AA010762 and by the Veterans Administration.
- Abbreviations:
- EC
- epicatechin
- EGC
- (−)-epigallocatechin
- ECG
- (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate
- EGCG
- (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate
- TNF
- tumor necrosis factor
- LPS
- lipopolysaccharide
- NF-κB
- nuclear factor-κB
- IKK
- IκB kinase
- PDTC
- pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate
- NAC
- N-acetyl cysteine
- GrTP
- green tea polyphenols
- GST
- glutathione S-transferase
- EMSA
- electrophoretic mobility shift assay
- CINC
- cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant
- NIK
- NF-κB-inducing kinase
- Received May 10, 2001.
- Accepted May 21, 2001.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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