Pathophysiological response of rhesus monkey kidney epithelial cells exposed to epigallocatechin-3-gallate

Green tea extracts are obtained from Camellia sinensus leaves that have been dried and contain the polyphenol known as catechins (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, EGCG). Green tea has been suggested to have an inhibitory effect on various complications such as HIV, cancer cells, homocysteine-related diseases, and cardiovascular disease. The literature is lacking on the role that green tea might have on normal cells that are at a high risk of irreversible injury. These cells include the lining of vessels (endothelium) and kidney tubules (epithelium). The specific objective of this study was to investigate the effects of various concentrations of green tea on the proliferation and viability of Rhesus Monkey Kidney epithelial cells (RMKEC) in culture. Thirty tubes were pre-plated with RMKEC sub-divided into six equal groups. In-groups 1-5, tubes were treated with 20, 2, 0.2, and 0.002i M of active extract of green tea (EGOG), respectively. Data obtained suggests that: (1) at 24 hour phase, exposure to 20, 2, and 0.0.2 microM concentrations induced cell proliferation and no significance difference was observed using 0.002 microM EGCG in comparison to the control, (2) at 48 hour phase, the use of 20 uM EGCG induced a proliferative effect in comparison to the control, (3) a decrease in cell proliferation was observed using a concentration of 2, 0.2, 0.002 microMEGCG in comparison to the control, (4) at 72 hour phase, there was a decrease in cell number in the groups treated with 20 and 2 microM concentrations of EGCG, (5) at 96 hour phase, there was a decrease in cell number in the group treated with the 0.002 microM concentration of EGOG, (6) RMK EC treated with EGCG at concentration of 0.2i M for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours displayed a significant decrease in catalase, and MDA, (7) RMKEC treated with 0.002 for 48, 72, and 96 ours displayed an increase in MDA and catalase. The various concentrations of green tea affected Rhesus Monkey Kidney Epithelial cell growth, function, and viability; however, the data suggests that further studies need to be conducted to determine the full impact of green tea on Kidney Epithelial function.