Korean J Ophthalmol.  2007 Dec;21(4):232-237. 10.3341/kjo.2007.21.4.232.

Protective Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate after UV Irradiation in Cultured Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

• Yang SW
• Lee BR
• Koh JW

• KMID: 754642
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2007.21.4.232

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the protective effects of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against UV irradiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. METHODS: UV irradiation was produced by a UV lamp for 30 seconds with an irradiance of 3.3 mW/cm2. After 5 minutes and 1 hour, we administered different concentrations of EGCG (0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 uM). The cell count was determined under a microscope using a counting chamber and the cell activity was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: The cell count of cultured human RPE cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administration group, compared with the non-administrated group. The cell activity of the cultured human RPE cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administration group and was increased in a dose-dependent way as determined by the MTT assay. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of EGCG increased the cell count and the cell activity after UV irradiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells; this suggests that EGCG provided protection against UV damage in cultured human retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

Keyword

Cellular activity; Cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells; Epigallocatechin Gallate; UV irradiation

MeSH Terms

Antioxidants/*pharmacology
Catechin/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology
Cell Count
Cells, Cultured
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Humans
Pigment Epithelium of Eye/cytology/*drug effects/radiation effects
Radiation Injuries/pathology/*prevention & control
Radiation-Protective Agents
Spectrophotometry
*Ultraviolet Rays

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 RPE cells loss after UV irradiation A: Control without UV irradiation. B: After UV irradiation without administration of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). C: 5 minutes after UV irradiation with administration of 100 µM EGCG. D: 1 hour after UV irradiation with administration of 100 µM EGCG. The photographs were taken by an inverted microscope. (×200)

• 

  Fig. 2 RPE cells count after UV irradiation. The cell count of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) administration group, compared with that of the group not receiving EGCG.. The control group did not receive UV irradiation. There was no significant relationship between the time of administrating EGCG and the loss of cells (P=0.279). A: 5 minutes after UV irradiation, B: 1 hour after UV irradiation.

• 

  Fig. 3 RPE cell activity after UV irradiation. The cell activity of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) administration group and increased in a dose-dependent way. Basis (0) was the group with UV irradiation without administration of EGCG. There was a significant relationship between the time of administration of EGCG and cell activities (P=0.001). A: 5 minutes after UV irradiation, B: 1 hour after UV irradiation.

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