The Journal of investigative dermatology
-
J. Invest. Dermatol. · Oct 2008
Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppresses collagen production and proliferation in keloid fibroblasts via inhibition of the STAT3-signaling pathway.
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 (IC(50): 54.4 microM (keloid fibroblast (KF)) versus 63.0 microM (NF)). ⋯ 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.