Interaction between Ester-Type Tea Catechins and Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin: Inhibitory Mechanism.

Tea is thought to alleviate neurotoxicity due to the antioxidative effect of ester-type tea catechins (ETC). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can sensitize β-amyloid (Aβ) induced neurotoxicity, and inhibitors of NGAL may relieve associated symptoms. As such, the interactions of ETC with NGAL were investigated by fluorescence spectrometry and molecular simulation. NGAL fluorescence is quenched regularly when being added with six processing types of tea infusion (SPTT) and ETC. Thermodynamic analyses suggest that ETC with more catechol moieties has a stronger binding capacity with NGAL especially in the presence of Fe. (-)-Epicatechin 3-O-caffeoate (ECC), a natural product isolated from Zijuan green tea, shows the strongest binding ability with NGAL (K = 15.21 ± 8.68 nM in the presence of Fe). All ETC are effective in protecting nerve cells against HO or Aβ induced injury. The inhibitory mechanism of ETC against NGAL supports its potential use in attenuation of neurotoxicity.