Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate inhibits the production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin by the blockade of caspase-1/NF-κB pathway in mast cells.

The cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been implicated in the development and progression of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, it has not yet been clarified the effect of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) on the production of TSLP. Thus, we investigated how EGCG inhibits the production of TSLP in the human mast cell line (HMC-1) cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, luciferase assay, and Western blot analysis were used to investigate the effects of EGCG. EGCG inhibited the production and mRNA expression of TSLP in HMC-1 cells. EGCG also inhibited the nuclear factor-κB luciferase activity induced by phorbol myristate acetate plus A23187. Furthermore, EGCG inhibited the activation of caspase-1 in HMC-1 cells. These results provide evidence that EGCG can help us to treat inflammatory and atopic diseases through the inhibition of TSLP.