Department of Food Bioscience and Biotechnology, College of Bioresource Science, Nihon University, (UNBS), Fujisawa, Japan.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2020 Apr;75(4):292-298. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000000792.
Healthy vascular endothelial cells regulate vascular tone and permeability, prevent vessel wall inflammation, enhance thromboresistance, and contribute to general vascular health. Furthermore, they perform important functions including the production of vasoactive substances such as nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors, as well as the regulation of smooth muscle cell functions. Conversely, vascular endothelial dysfunction leads to atherosclerosis, thereby enhancing the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Observational studies and randomized trials showed that green tea intake was inversely related to CVD risk. Furthermore, evidence indicates that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea might exert a preventive effect against CVDs. EGCG acts as an antioxidant, inducing NO release and reducing endothelin-1 production in endothelial cells. EGCG enhances the bioavailability of normal NO by reducing levels of the endogenous NO inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine. Furthermore, it inhibits the enhanced expression of adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and attenuates monocyte adhesion. In addition, EGCG prevents enhanced oxidative stress through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. These effects indicate that it might prevent the production of reactive oxygen species, inhibit inflammation, and reduce endothelial cell apoptosis during the initial stages of atherosclerosis. The current review summarizes recent research in this area and discusses novel findings regarding the protective effect of EGCG on endothelial dysfunction and CVDs in general.
健康的血管内皮细胞调节血管张力和通透性，防止血管壁炎症，增强血栓抵抗力，并有助于整体血管健康。此外，它们还具有重要的功能，包括产生血管活性物质，如一氧化氮（NO）和内皮衍生的超极化因子，以及调节平滑肌细胞功能。相反，血管内皮功能障碍导致动脉粥样硬化，从而增加中风、心肌梗死和其他心血管疾病（CVDs）的风险。观察性研究和随机试验表明，绿茶的摄入量与 CVD 风险呈负相关。此外，有证据表明，绿茶中发现的表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（EGCG）可能对 CVD 具有预防作用。EGCG 作为一种抗氧化剂，可诱导内皮细胞释放一氧化氮并减少内皮素-1的产生。EGCG 通过降低内源性一氧化氮抑制剂不对称二甲基精氨酸的水平来增强正常 NO 的生物利用度。此外，它还抑制粘附分子如血管细胞粘附分子-1 和细胞间粘附分子-1 的增强表达，并减轻单核细胞的粘附。此外，EGCG 通过 Nrf2/HO-1 途径防止增强的氧化应激。这些作用表明，它可能在动脉粥样硬化的早期阶段防止活性氧的产生、抑制炎症和减少内皮细胞凋亡。本综述总结了该领域的最新研究，并讨论了 EGCG 对内皮功能障碍和 CVD 的保护作用的新发现。
