Protective effects of EGCG in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice

GONG Yeli; ZHANG Wen; LIU Wei; XU Xiangning; ZHAO Dan; XIONG Zhe; SONG Wenjian; SHU Xiji

doi:10.13431/j.cnki.immunol.j.20170067

Abstract：To evaluate the protective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG,green-tea extractive) against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and to investigate its mechanism,we established a EAE model in mice,and observed the pathological changes in model mice before and after EGCG treatment.C57BL/B mice were randomly divided into three groups:normal control group,EAE model group and EGCG treatment group,then the neurological defects of the mice in each group were evaluated and the inflammatory infiltration of brain and spinal cord tissue were examined by HE staining.The percentages of Th1 and Th17 cells in central nervous system were detected by flow cytometry;the expression of IFN-γ IL-17 and TGF-β in 25 d brain tissue were observed by immunohistochemical method,and the concentration of IFN-γ,IL-17,TGF-β,IL-10 and IL-4 in mouse serum were detected by ELISA.Data showed that EGCG treatment could ameliorate the disease symptom and the inflammation in central nervous system of EAE mice.Compared with EAE model group,the IFN-γ and IL-17 expression in EGCG group increased and the TGF-β expression reduced in brain tissue,which was consistent with the change of soluble IFN-γ,IL-17 and TGF-β in peripheral blood.In conclusion,EGCG has protective effects in EAE mice,and the mechanism might relate to its influence on IFN-γ,IL-17 and TGF-β3 expression both in central nervous system and in peripheral blood,and also relate to its regulation effect on T cell differentiation.