Bioactive compounds in green tea may improve transplant tolerance: A computational systems biology analysis

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) has bioactive compounds that have been shown to possess nutritive effects on various biomolecular processes such as immunomodulation. This research explores the immunomodulatory effects of green tea in reducing transplant rejection.

The study employs computational systems biology: 1) to identify biomolecular mechanisms of immunomodulation in transplant rejection; 2) to identify the bioactive compounds of green tea and their specific effects on mechanisms of immunomodulation in transplant rejection; and, 3) to predict the quantitative effects of those bioactive compounds on immunomodulation in transplant rejection.

Three bioactive compounds of green tea - epicatechin (EC), gallic acid (GA), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), were identified for their potential effects on immunomodulation of transplant rejection. Of the three, EGCG was the only one determined to enhance anti-inflammatory activity by: 1) upregulating synthesis of HO-1 that is known to promote Treg and Th2 phenotypes associated with enabling transplant tolerance; and, 2) downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α, NO, IL-6, and IL-1β that are known to promote Th1 and Th17 phenotypes associated with transplant rejection.

To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first molecular mechanistic understanding the clinical nutritive value of green tea, specifically the bioactive compound EGCG, in enabling transplant tolerance.