Green Tea Catechins Attenuate Human Primary Pterygium Cell Survival and Migration Via Modulation of ERK p42/p44 and p38 Pathways.

Yaping Yang, Shao-Lang Chen, Yanxuan Xu, Yao Yao, Jia-Jian Liang, Li Wang, Vishal Jhanji, Xinghuai Sun, Di Ma, Tsz Kin Ng

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2021 Oct 20

filter terms:

Pterygium belongs to an ocular surface disease with triangular-shaped hyperplastic growth, characterized by conjunctivalization, inflammation, and connective tissue remodeling. We previously demonstrated neoplastic-like properties of pterygium cells. Green tea catechin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), has been shown to possess antitumorigenic properties; herein, we aimed to determine the effects of green tea catechins on human primary pterygium cell survival and migration and compared to that on patients' conjunctival cells. Both human primary pterygium and conjunctival cells expressed EGCG receptor, the 67 kDa laminin receptor. Seven-day treatment of green tea extract (Theaphenon E; 16.25 μg/mL) and EGCG (25 μM) attenuated pterygium cell proliferation by 16.78% (p < 0.001) and 24.09% (p < 0.001) respectively, without significantly influencing conjunctival cells. Moreover, green tea extract (16.25 μg/mL) and EGCG (25 μM) treatments also hindered pterygium cell migration by 35.22% (p < 0.001) and 25.20% (p = 0.019), respectively, but not conjunctival cells. Yet, green tea extract and EGCG treatments did not significantly induce pterygium cell apoptosis. Furthermore, green tea extract and EGCG treatments significantly increased the phosphorylation of p38 protein but reduced the phosphorylation of p42/p44 protein in pterygium cells. In summary, this study revealed that green tea extract and EGCG attenuated human primary pterygium cell survival and migration in vitro without damaging conjunctival cells, suggesting a novel potential therapeutic approach for primary pterygium treatment.

Citation

Yaping Yang, Shao-Lang Chen, Yanxuan Xu, Yao Yao, Jia-Jian Liang, Li Wang, Vishal Jhanji, Xinghuai Sun, Di Ma, Tsz Kin Ng. Green Tea Catechins Attenuate Human Primary Pterygium Cell Survival and Migration Via Modulation of ERK p42/p44 and p38 Pathways. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. 2021 Oct 20;69(41):12209-12218