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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Isolation of Peritoneum-derived Mast Cells and Their Functional Characterization with Ca2+-imaging and Degranulation Assays
Published on: July 4, 2018
(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate interferes with mast cell adhesiveness, migration and its potential to recruit
E Melgarejo1, M A Medina, F Sánchez-Jiménez
1Procel Lab, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, and CIBERER, 29071, Málaga, Spain.
Abstract:
Mast cells are multipotent effector cells of the immune system. They are able to induce and enhance angiogenesis via multiple pathways. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea and a putative chemopreventive agent, was reported to inhibit tumor invasion and angiogenesis, processes that are essential for tumor growth and metastasis. Using the human mast cell line HMC-1 and commercial cDNA macroarrays, we evaluated the effect of EGCG on the expression of angiogenesis-related genes. Our data show that among other effects, EGCG treatment reduces expression of two integrins (alpha5 and beta3) and a chemokine (MCP1), resulting in a lower adhesion of mast cells associated with a decreased potential to produce signals eliciting monocyte recruitment. These effects on gene expression levels are functionally validated by showing inhibitory effects in adhesion, aggregation, migration and recruitment assays.
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