Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppresses collagen production and proliferation in keloid fibroblasts via inhibition of the STAT3-signaling pathway

Gyuman Park, Byung Sun Yoon, Jai Hee Moon, Bona Kim, Eun Kyoung Jun, Sejong Oh, Hyunggee Kim, Hea Joon Song, Joo Young Noh, Chil Hwan Oh, Seungkwon You

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    121 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Keloids are benign skin tumors characterized by collagen accumulation and hyperproliferation of fibroblasts. To find an effective therapy for keloids, we explored the pharmacological potential of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a widely investigated tumor-preventive agent. When applied to normal and keloid fibroblasts (KFs) in vitro, proliferation and migration of KFs were more strongly suppressed by EGCG than normal fibroblast proliferation and migration (IC50: 54.4 μM (keloid fibroblast (KF)) versus 63.0 μM (NF)). The level of Smad2/3, signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3), and p38 phosphorylation is more enhanced in KFs, and EGCG inhibited phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and STAT3 (Tyr705 and Ser727). To evaluate the contribution of these pathways to keloid pathology, we treated KFs with specific inhibitors for PI3K, ERK1/2, or STAT3. Although a PI3K inhibitor significantly suppressed proliferation, PI3K and MEK/ERK inhibitors had a minor effect on migration and collagen production. However, a JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor and a STAT3 siRNA strongly suppressed proliferation, migration, and collagen production by KFs. We also found that treatment with EGCG suppressed growth and collagen production in the in vivo keloid model. This study demonstrates that EGCG suppresses the pathological characteristics of keloids through inhibition of the STAT3-signaling pathway. We propose that EGCG has potential in the treatment and prevention of keloids.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2429-2441
    Number of pages13
    JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology
    Volume128
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2008 Oct

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Dermatology
    • Cell Biology

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