(-)-Epicatechin and related procyanidins modulate intracellular

S. V. VERSTRAETEN; G. G. MACKENZIE; P. I. OTEIZA; C. G. FRAGA

FREE RADICAL RESEARCH

Informa-Healthcare

Año: 2008 vol. 42 p. 864 - 872

1071-5762

We investigated the effects of (-)-epicatechin (EC), its oligomers, dimer B2 (B2), and trimer C1 (C1), on calcium-dependent cell oxidation. Jurkat T cells were subjected to a Ca2+ mobilization challenge by replacing Na+ with K+ in the incubation media. A 249 ± 38 % increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was observed, and that effect was prevented by the presence of inhibitors of Ca2+ mobilization and entrance. The preincubation of the cells in the presence of EC, B2, or C1 prevented K+-mediated increase in [Ca2+]i. IC50 were 10, 24, and 197 nM for EC, B2 and C1, respectively. Cell membrane depolarization was affected by K+, but neither inhibitors of Ca2+ mobilization, EC, B2, or C1 modified the increase in membrane potential. An 84 ± 7 % increase in cell oxidants was observed after cell exposure to K+. This increase was prevented by the inhibition of Ca2+ mobilization, NADPH oxidase, and protein kinase C, as well as by 10 nM EC, 10 nM B2, or 100 nM C1. In addition, EC and B2 (100 nM) significantly inhibited the activation of the [Ca2+]i-regulated transcription factor NFAT. These results indicate that EC and related oligomers, assayed at physiologically achievable concentrations, can modulate [Ca2+]i and then prevent cell oxidation and other Ca2+-regulated events.