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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #109434

Title: GREEN TEA CATECHINS AND VITAMIN E INHIBIT ANGIOGENESIS OF HUMAN MICROVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELLS THROUGH SUPPRESSION OF IL-8 PRODUCTION

Author
item TANG, FENG-YAO - HNRCA-TUFTS
item MEYDANI, MOHSEN - HNRCA-TUFTS

Submitted to: Nutrition and Cancer
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2001
Publication Date: 1/1/2002
Citation: Tang, F.V., Meydani, M. 2002. Green tea catechins and vitamin e inhibit angiogenesis of human microvascular endothelial cells through suppression of il-8 production. Nutrition and Cancer. 41:119-125.

Interpretive Summary: Studies have indicated that consumption of green tea and high vitamin E intake are associated with reduced risk of developing certain types of cancer. However, the effect of green tea and vitamin E on tumor growth has not been well established. In this study, we tested vitamin E and green tea for their capacity to inhibit blood vessel formation, which is a necessary step in tumor development. Production of interleukin (IL)-8, a protein required for new blood vessel formation, was found to be reduced by vitamin E and some of the green tea components tested in a cell culture model. These results suggest that green tea and/or vitamin E may have preventive effects on tumor development, effected at least in part through inhibition of IL-8 production.

Technical Abstract: Epidemiological and animal studies have indicated that consumption of green tea and high vitamin E intake are associated with reduced risk of developing certain forms of cancer. However, the effect of green tea catechins and vitamin E on angiogenesis, an important process in tumor growth, has not been well established. a-tocopherol and five major catechins of green tea were tested for their ability to inhibit angiogenesis in vitro, using a model in which human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC) were exposed at a constant rate to H2O2. In this model, production of interleukin (IL)-8 by HMVEC was required for angiogenesis as assessed by tube formation in three-dimensional gel in culture. Vitamin E at a dosage of 40 mM in the culture media significantly reduced IL-8 production and angiogenesis. Among the green tea catechins, epigallocatechin (0.5-1 mM) was found to be the most effective in reducing IL-8 production and inhibiting angiogenesis. These results suggest that catechins in green tea or vitamin E may have preventive effects on angiogenesis tumor development, mediated at least in part through inhibition of angiogenesis via suppression of IL-8 production.