Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate and cranberry proanthocyanidins act in synergy with cathelicidin (LL-37) to reduce the LPS-induced inflammatory response in a three-dimensional co-culture model of gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts.
Lombardo Bedran. Telma Blanca TB; Palomari Spolidorio. Denise D; Grenier. Daniel D
Key Findings
- LL‑37, EGCG (green tea) and AC‑PACs (cranberry) each reduced inflammatory cytokine release in a 3‑D gum cell model.
- Combining LL‑37 with either EGCG or AC‑PACs produced synergistic reductions in key cytokines like IL‑6, G‑CSF, and GRO‑α.
- No effect was seen on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) or their inhibitors, indicating the synergy was specific to cytokine pathways.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the take‑away is that supplementing with green tea extract (EGCG) and cranberry proanthocyanidins may enhance the body’s own LL‑37 antimicrobial activity and help lower gum inflammation. While the research is still in vitro, incorporating these polyphenols into a daily oral‑health routine (e.g., green tea, cranberry supplements, or mouth rinses) could be a low‑risk strategy to support periodontal health, especially when paired with practices that naturally boost LL‑37 such as vitamin D optimization.
Summary
The study found that the natural antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 works together with green tea catechin EGCG and cranberry proanthocyanidins to dampen inflammation in a lab model of gum tissue. When these compounds were combined, they cut down the release of several inflammatory signals triggered by bacterial LPS, suggesting a potential boost to oral health.
Abstract
The human antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin (LL-37) possesses anti-inflammatory properties that may contribute to attenuating the inflammatory process associated with chronic periodontitis. Plant polyphenols, including those from cranberry and green tea, have been reported to reduce inflammatory cytokine secretion by host cells. In the present study, we hypothesized that A-type cranberry proanthocyanidins (AC-PACs) and green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) act in synergy with LL-37 to reduce the secretion of inflammatory mediators by oral mucosal cells. A three-dimensional (3D) co-culture model of gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts treated with non-cytotoxic concentrations of AC-PACs (25 and 50 μg/ml), EGCG (1 and 5 μg/ml), and LL-37 (0.1 and 0.2 μM) individually and in combination (AC-PACs+LL-37 and EGCG+LL-37) were stimulated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Multiplex ELISA assays were used to quantify the secretion of 54 host factors, including chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). LL-37, AC-PACs, and EGCG, individually or in combination, had no effect on the regulation of MMP and TIMP secretion but inhibited the secretion of several cytokines. AC-PACs and LL-37 acted in synergy to reduce the secretion of CXC-chemokine ligand 1 (GRO-α), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and had an additive effect on reducing the secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8), interferon-γ inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in response to LPS stimulation. EGCG and LL-37 acted in synergy to reduce the secretion of GRO-α, G-CSF, IL-6, IL-8, and IP-10, and had an additive effect on MCP-1 secretion. The combination of LL-37 and natural polyphenols from cranberry and green tea acted in synergy to reduce the secretion of several cytokines by an LPS-stimulated 3D co-culture model of oral mucosal cells. Such combinations show promising results as potential adjunctive therapies for treating inflammatory periodontitis.
Study Information
pubmed
2015
2015-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.archoralbio.2015.02.021
33
57