Green Tea Protects Rats against Autoimmune Arthritis by Modulating Disease-Related Immune Events

Abstract

Green tea, a product of the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. The polyphenolic compounds from green tea (PGT) possess anti- inflammatory properties. We investigated whether PGT can afford protection against autoimmune arthritis, and also examined the immunological basis of this effect using the rat adjuvant arthritis (AA) model of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). AA can be induced in the Lewis rat (RT.1l) by immunization with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra (Mtb), and arthritic rats raise T cell response to the mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65 (Bhsp65). PGT (2-12 g/L, w/v) was fed to rats in drinking water for 1-3 wk followed by disease induction by Mtb injection. Thereafter, these rats were observed regularly and graded for signs of arthritis. Sub-groups of these rats were killed at defined time points, and their draining lymph node cells (LNC) were harvested and tested for T cell proliferative and cytokine responses. Furthermore, the sera collected from these rats were tested for anti-Bhsp65 antibodies. We observed that feeding 8 g/L PGT to Lewis rats for 9 d significantly reduced the severity of arthritis compared to the water-fed controls. Interestingly, PGT-fed rats had lower concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17), but greater concentration of the immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10 than controls. PGT feeding also suppressed the anti-Bhsp65 antibody response. Thus, green tea induced changes in arthritis related immune response. We suggest further systematic exploration of dietary supplementation with PGT as an adjunct nutritional strategy for the management of RA.

Lactobacillus acidophilus Protected Organs in Experimental Arthritis by Regulating the Pro-inflammatory Cytokines

“…TNF-a is shown to accelerate both angiogenesis and matrix degradation by induction of vascular matrix metalloproteinase. Anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-4 and IL-10 prevent the inflammatory damaged associated with arthritis [19]. L. acidophilus induced suppression of IL- 6 and TNF-a and increased the production of IL-10 represents the two of the major mechanism that could afford protection against adjuvant arthritis.…”

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) in mice

“…30 (4) However, other mechanisms have been proposed to explain the anti-inflammatory effect of green tea. In a study of the effect of polyphenols from green tea in an experimental rat arthritis model, Kim et al 26 found that green tea reduced IL-17 synthesis and increased IL-10 synthesis. IL-17 is synthesized by Th17 lymphocytes during events favoring chronic inflammation.…”

Bioactive components and preventive effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract on post-laparotomy intra-abdominal adhesion in rats

“…6,7 Green tea has long been consumed by Eastern Asian people as a drink to promote health and increase longevity. 8,9 The plant, abundant in Asia, produces one of the most easily available drinks worldwide. 8,10,11 It has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, mainly due to polyphenolic compounds, in particular, the catechin contents, in its leaves.…”

“…8,9 The plant, abundant in Asia, produces one of the most easily available drinks worldwide. 8,10,11 It has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, mainly due to polyphenolic compounds, in particular, the catechin contents, in its leaves. 12e16 As a result of antioxidant activities, even low doses of the main green tea compounds, i.e., epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate are capable of increasing collagen volume and assisting wound healing.…”