Protective effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on toxic metalloproteinases-mediated skin damage induced by Scyphozoan jellyfish envenomation
Description
Jellyfish stingings are currently raising serious public health concerns around the world. Therefore, the search of novel first-aid reagent suitable for envenomations from wide ranging stinging jellyfish species has become important. Previous in vitro and in vivo reports demonstrated that the metalloproteinase activity of N. Nomurai venom (NnV) was the major contributor to envenomation pathology. Therefore, metalloproteinase inhibitors make a promising candidate for the treatment of Scyphozoan jellyfish envenomation. Plant polyphenols have shown potential as treatments for neutralizing snake venoms and toxins. The major polyphenol component in green tea, Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), has demonstrated previously metalloproteinase inhibition and we explore its potential as a NnV treatment. We show that EGCG inhibits the proteolytic activity of NnV as demonstrated by gelatin zymography. EGCG reduced NnV-induced cell death of HaCaT and HDF cells combined with their secretions of human matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9. Simulated rat NnV envenomation study showed that topical treatments with EGCG significantly ameliorated the progression of the dermonecrotic lesion typically induced by NnV. EGCG also reduced the activities of tissue MMP-2 and MMP-9, which play crucial role in pathogenesis of NnV. Therefore, we proposed that EGCG might be an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of cutaneoous jellyfish symptoms.