Chapter 106 - Effects of Tea Catechins on Cardiac Allografts

Abstract

Tea catechins are key compounds with many biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-carcinogenic properties. Their effects are induced by the suppression of several inflammatory factors through nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) regulation. While these characteristics of catechins have been well documented, the action of catechins on cardiac rejection have not yet been well investigated. To test the hypothesis that catechins can attenuate ventricular remodeling and graft arterial diseases (GAD) in cardiac rejection, we performed oral administration of catechins into murine cardiac recipients. We revealed that catechins suppressed myocardial remodeling and GAD formation with altered cytokine balances and inhibited adhesion molecules and cell proliferation through NF-κB regulation. Thus, catechins are potent agents for the suppression of chronic rejection because they are critically involved in the suppression of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways.