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Protective effects of (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate on UVA-induced damage in HaCaT keratinocytes

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Abstract

(−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a constituent of green tea, has been extensively studied and shown to be a powerful antioxidant protecting skin cells against photodamage. In this study, however, we demonstrated that another gallated catechin, (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), was also able to protect human keratinocytes against damage induced by ultraviolet A (UVA) light. We found that ECG dose-dependently inhibited UVA-induced keratinocyte death as determined by cell viability assay. Moreover, ECG had similar potency to EGCG in inhibiting UVA-induced cell death. Therefore, the mechanism of action of ECG was further investigated. As assayed by flow cytometry, UVA-induced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production in keratinocytes was inhibited by ECG in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that ECG can act as a free radical scavenger while keratinocytes were photodamaged. The scavenging effect of ECG was confirmed by the fact that ECG treatment attenuated cell damage induced by H2O2 and hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase. In a parallel experiment, UVA-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in keratinocytes was blocked by ECG. We provided here the first evidence that ECG is a potent protectant that protects keratinocytes from photodamage. Because ECG is abundant in green tea, we believe that this compound is beneficial for skin care.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Yee-Jin Lee (School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University) for kindly supplying the HaCaT cells. This work was supported by a grant from Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital and Fu-Jen Catholic University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei County, Taiwan

    Chieh-Chen Huang

  2. Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Jai-You Fang

  3. School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, 510, Chung-Cheng Road, Hsinchuang, Taipei County, 242, Taiwan

    Chieh-Chen Huang, Wen-Bin Wu, Han-Sun Chiang & Chi-Feng Hung

  4. Department of Nursing, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei County, Taiwan

    Yuan-Ju Wei

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  1. Chieh-Chen Huang
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Correspondence to Chi-Feng Hung.

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Huang, CC., Fang, JY., Wu, WB. et al. Protective effects of (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate on UVA-induced damage in HaCaT keratinocytes. Arch Dermatol Res 296, 473–481 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-005-0540-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-005-0540-5

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