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Zhou F, Deng S, Luo Y, Liu Z, Liu C. Research Progress on the Protective Effect of Green Tea Polyphenol (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) on the Liver. Nutrients 2025; 17:1101. [PMID: 40218859 PMCID: PMC11990830 DOI: 10.3390/nu17071101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2025] [Revised: 03/15/2025] [Accepted: 03/18/2025] [Indexed: 04/14/2025] Open
Abstract
The liver, as the primary metabolic organ, is susceptible to an array of factors that can harm liver cells and give rise to different liver diseases. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a natural compound found in green tea, exerts numerous beneficial effects on the human body. Notably, EGCG displays antioxidative, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. This review specifically highlights the pivotal role of EGCG in liver-related diseases, focusing on viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. EGCG not only inhibits the entry and replication of hepatitis B and C viruses within hepatocytes, but also mitigates hepatocytic damage caused by hepatitis-induced inflammation. Furthermore, EGCG exhibits significant therapeutic potential against hepatocellular carcinoma. Combinatorial use of EGCG and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma drugs enhances the sensitivity of drug-resistant cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents, leading to improved therapeutic outcomes. Thus, the combination of EGCG and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma drugs holds promise as an effective approach for treating drug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma. In conclusion, EGCG possesses hepatoprotective properties against various forms of liver damage and emerges as a potential drug candidate for liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423000, China;
| | - Sengwen Deng
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (S.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Yong Luo
- School of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423000, China;
| | - Zhonghua Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Education, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China;
| | - Changwei Liu
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (S.D.); (C.L.)
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Liu S, Wang J, Li Y, Wang M, Du P, Zhang Z, Li W, Sun R, Fan M, Yang M, Yin H. A Multivalent mRNA Therapeutic Vaccine Exhibits Breakthroughs in Immune Tolerance and Virological Suppression of HBV by Stably Presenting the Pre-S Antigen on the Cell Membrane. Pharmaceutics 2025; 17:211. [PMID: 40006578 PMCID: PMC11859219 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17020211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2024] [Revised: 01/14/2025] [Accepted: 02/05/2025] [Indexed: 02/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: In chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB), the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) continuously exhausts the hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), which leads to the formation of immune tolerance. Accordingly, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be blocked by inhibiting the binding of the hepatitis B surface pre-S1/pre-S2 antigen to the hepatocyte receptor NTCP, but the clinical cure rate of pre-S-based vaccines for CHB is limited. Methods: In this study, we designed and prepared multivalent hepatitis B therapeutic mRNA vaccines encoding three hepatitis B surface antigen proteins (L, M, and S) at the cell membrane, verified via in vitro transfection and expression experiments. An in vivo immunization experiment in HBV transgenic (Tg) mice was first completed. Subsequently, an adeno-associated virus plasmid vector carrying the HBV1.2-fold genome (pAAV HBV1.2) model and the adeno-associated virus vector carrying HBV1.3-fold genome (rAAV HBV1.3) model were constructed and immunized with mRNA vaccines. The HBV antigen, antibodies, and HBV DNA in serum were detected. Indirect (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) ELISA were made to analyze the activated antigen-specific IgG in HBV Tg mice. Antigen-dependent T-cell activation experiments were carried out, as well as the acute toxicity tests in mice. Results: The L protein/pre-S antigens could be stably presented at the cell membrane with the support of the S protein (and M protein). After vaccinations, the vaccines effectively reactivated the production of high levels of HBsAb, disrupted immune tolerance, and activated the production of high-affinity antibodies against structural pre-S antigen in HBV Tg mice. The HBsAg seroconversion and serum HBV DNA clearance were achieved in two HBV mice models. Furthermore, pre-S antigen-dependent T-cell response against HBV infection was confirmed. The therapeutic vaccine also showed safety in mice. Conclusions: A novel therapeutic mRNA vaccine was developed to break through HBsAg-mediated immune tolerance and treat CHB by stably presenting the pre-S antigen at the membrane, and the vaccine has great potential for the functional cure of CHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Jie Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Yunxuan Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Muhan Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Pei Du
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Zhijie Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Wenguo Li
- Jiangsu Cell Tech Medical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Nanjing 211100, China;
| | - Rongchen Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Mingtao Fan
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Meijia Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
- Jiangsu Cell Tech Medical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Nanjing 211100, China;
| | - Hongping Yin
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; (S.L.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (M.W.); (P.D.); (Z.Z.); (R.S.); (M.F.)
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Wu CR, Kim HJ, Sun CP, Chung CY, Lin YY, Tao MH, Kim JH, Chen DS, Chen PJ. Mapping the conformational epitope of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody against HBsAg by in vivo selection of HBV escape variants. Hepatology 2022; 76:207-219. [PMID: 34957587 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) has been routinely applied in the liver transplantation setting to block HBV reinfection of grafts. However, new monoclonal anti-HBV surface antibodies have been developed to replace HBIG. The epitopes of such monoclonal antibodies may affect the emergence of escape variants and deserve study. APPROACH AND RESULTS The conformational epitope of sLenvervimab, a surrogate form of Lenvervimab, which is a monoclonal anti-HBsAg antibody currently under phase 3 trial, was investigated by selecting escape mutants from a human liver chimeric mouse. HBV-infected chimeric mice treated with sLenvervimab monotherapy showed an initial decline in circulating HBsAg levels, followed by a quick rebound in 1 month. Sequencing of circulating or liver HBV DNA revealed emerging variants, with replacement of amino acid E164 or T140, two residues widely separated in HBsAg. E164 HBV variants strongly resisted sLenvervimab neutralization in cell culture infection, and the T140 variant moderately resisted sLenvervimab neutralization. Natural HBV variants with amino-acid replacements adjacent to E164 were constructed and examined for sLenvervimab neutralization effects. Variants with K160 replacement also resisted neutralization. These data revealed the conformational epitope of sLenvervimab. CONCLUSIONS Selection of antibody-escape HBV variants in human chimeric mice works efficiently. Analysis of such emerging variants helps to identify anchor amino-acid residues of the conformational epitope that are difficult to discover by conventional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Ru Wu
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Hyun-Jin Kim
- Mogam Institute for Biomedical Research, Yongin-Si, Gyunggi-Do, Korea
| | - Cheng-Pu Sun
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Chen-Yen Chung
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - You-Yu Lin
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Mi-Hua Tao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Jung-Hwan Kim
- Mogam Institute for Biomedical Research, Yongin-Si, Gyunggi-Do, Korea
| | - Ding-Shinn Chen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.).,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Pei-Jer Chen
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.).,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.).,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.).,Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
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Identification of Potential HCV Inhibitors Based on the Interaction of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate with Viral Envelope Proteins. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26051257. [PMID: 33652639 PMCID: PMC7956288 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26051257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C is affecting millions of people around the globe annually, which leads to death in very high numbers. After many years of research, hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a serious threat to the human population and needs proper management. The in silico approach in the drug discovery process is an efficient method in identifying inhibitors for various diseases. In our study, the interaction between Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a component of green tea, and envelope glycoprotein E2 of HCV is evaluated. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate is the most promising polyphenol approved through cell culture analysis that can inhibit the entry of HCV. Therefore, various in silico techniques have been employed to find out other potential inhibitors that can behave as EGCG. Thus, the homology modelling of E2 protein was performed. The potential lead molecules were predicted using ligand-based as well as structure-based virtual screening methods. The compounds obtained were then screened through PyRx. The drugs obtained were ranked based on their binding affinities. Furthermore, the docking of the topmost drugs was performed by AutoDock Vina, while its 2D interactions were plotted in LigPlot+. The lead compound mms02387687 (2-[[5-[(4-ethylphenoxy) methyl]-4-prop-2-enyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl] sulfanyl]-N-[3(trifluoromethyl) phenyl] acetamide) was ranked on top, and we believe it can serve as a drug against HCV in the future, owing to experimental validation.
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