Protective Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate After UV Irradiation of Cultured Human Lens Epithelial Cells

PURPOSE: To evaluate the protective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against UV irradiation of cultured human lens epithelial cells. METHODS: We irradiated cultured human lens epithelial cells with a 30-second pulse from a UV lamp with an irradiance of 0.6 mW/cm2. Five minutes and 1 hour after UV irradiation, we administered 0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, or 100 uM EGCG. The cell number was measured with a microscopic counting chamber and cell viability was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: Compared to untreated cells, the total number of cultured human lens epithelial cells was markedly higher after UV irradiation. In a dose-dependent manner, viability was also higher in EGCG-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: EGCG increased the cell count and cell viability after UV irradiation of cultured human lens epithelial cells, indicating that EGCG can protect lens epithelium against UV damage.

Protective Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate after UV Irradiation in Cultured Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

PURPOSE: To evaluate the protective effects of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against UV irradiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. METHODS: UV irradiation was produced by a UV lamp for 30 seconds with an irradiance of 3.3 mW/cm2. After 5 minutes and 1 hour, we administered different concentrations of EGCG (0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 uM). The cell count was determined under a microscope using a counting chamber and the cell activity was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: The cell count of cultured human RPE cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administration group, compared with the non-administrated group. The cell activity of the cultured human RPE cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administration group and was increased in a dose-dependent way as determined by the MTT assay. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of EGCG increased the cell count and the cell activity after UV irradiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells; this suggests that EGCG provided protection against UV damage in cultured human retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

The Effect of PPAR gamma2 Pro12Ala Polymorphism on Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetes / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Recently, the PPAR gamma2 Pro12Ala polymorphism has been associated with type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. In the present study, we investigated the association between Pro12Ala polymorphism and diabetic nephropathy in korean subjects. METHODS: A total of 180 patients with type 2 diabetes and 100 normal controls were enrolled in this studies. Screening for mutation at codon of PPAR gamma2 were carried out by PCR-RELP analysis. Also, we measured important covariables, such as duration of diabetes, blood pressure, renal function and serum lipids. RESULTS: In PCR-RELP, it showed that there were no difference in the PPAR gamma2 genotype frequencies between diabetic subjects (Pro/Pro: 80.5%, Pro/Ala: 19.5%) and normal controls (88%, 12%). However, it showed that there were significant difference in the PPAR gamma2 genotype frequencies between diabetic subjects with nephropathy (Pro/Pro: 74.5%, Pro/Ala: 25.5%) and diabetic subjects without nephropathy (87.8%, 12.2%) (p=0.040). In diabetic subjects, Pro/Ala genotypes were significantly different from Pro/Pro regarding serum creatinine, 24 hour proteinuria, systolic pressure, and LDL-cholesterol. In diabetic nephropathy, genotypes with Pro/Ala significantly increased serum creatinine (2.7+/-0.41 vs 1.7+/-0.68 mg/dL), 24hour urine protein (median+-SE: 1.9+/-1.02 vs 0.9+/-0.44 g/day), systolic pressure (161+/-27.8 vs 152+/-32.4 mmHg), LDL cholesterol (134+/-30.4 vs 125+/-20.0 mg/dL), and triglyceride (151+/-86.5 vs 135+/-60.9 mg/dL) than genotypes with Pro/Pro. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that Pro12Ala Polymorphism of the PPAR gamma2 gene may be associated with diabetes with nephropathy in korean patients.