(‐)‐Epigallocatechin Gallate Inhibits Endothelin‐1‐Induced C‐Reactive Protein Production in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Numerous studies have shown that C-reactive protein (CRP), a pro-inflammation cytokine, makes a direct contribution to atherosclerosis, and that (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is able to exert an anti-atherosclerotic effect by anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Based on our previous study, the effect of EGCG on endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced CRP production in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the possible mechanism were observed. The in vitro experiments showed that EGCG concentration-dependently inhibited ET-1-stimulated expression of CRP both in protein and mRNA levels in VSMCs as determined by the immunocytochemical staining, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The in vivo investigation with the double-labelled immunofluorescence staining and RT-qPCR displayed that EGCG also prevented ET-1-induced CRP expression in protein and mRNA levels in the aortic VSMCs of rats receiving the subchronic infusion of ET-1. In addition, EGCG suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation evoked by ET-1 in VSMCs as observed by the fluorescence probe. These demonstrate that EGCG may inhibit ET-1-stimulated generation of CRP in VSMCs so to relieve the inflammatory response and oxidative stress via blocking ROS signal, which provides new evidence for an anti-atherosclerotic effect of EGCG.