Abstract
Some tea polyphenolic compounds including (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been shown to inhibit histamine release from mast cells through poorly understood mechanisms. By using a mast cell model rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells we explored the mechanism of the inhibition. EGCG inhibited histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells in response to antigen or the calcium-ionophore A23187, while (−)-epicatechin (EC) had little effect. Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins including ∼120 kDa proteins occurred in parallel with the secretion induced by either stimulation. EGCG also inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of the ∼120-kDa proteins induced by either stimulation, whereas EC did not. The tyrosine kinase-specific inhibitor piceatannol inhibited the secretion and tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins induced by either stimulation also. Further analysis showed that the focal adhesion kinase pp125FAK was one of the ∼120-kDa proteins. These findings suggest that EGCG prevents histamine release from mast cells mainly by inhibiting tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins including pp125FAK.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
