ABSTRACT
Endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis is associated with increasing oxidative stress that could be reversed by antioxidant. Therefore epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and catechin (C) of tea flavonoids were investigated for their roles in regenerating endothelial cell. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNCs) were isolated, plated and cultured in medium with/without treatment of EGCG, ECG, EGC and C. Results showed that among all EGCG, ECG, EGC and C concentrations tested, 12.5 µmol/L was not cytotoxic for peripheral blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (PB-EPCs). Treatment of EGCG, ECG, EGC or C increased the percentages of CD34, CD133, VEGFR-2 expressions and suppressed hydrogen peroxide-induced percentages of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in PB-EPCs. Taken together, our current results showed that EGCG, ECG, EGC or C of tea flavonoids could induce differentiation of PB-MNCs into PB-EPCs as well as protect PB-EPCs from oxidative damage by suppresing the intracellular ROS levels.