Green Tea may Prevent Amyloidosis in Patients With Bone Marrow Disorders

Highlights:

A compound in green tea could be a life-saver for people with bone marrow disorders.
Patients with bone marrow disorders often suffer from a fatal condition called amyloidosis (accumulation of amyloid in the organs).
The compound called Epigallocatechine-3-gallate (EGCG) prevents misshapen accumulation of antibodies.

Green tea has been linked to boosting metabolism and aiding in weight loss. Now a new study shows that a compound in green tea could treat bone-marrow disorders.

The compound called epigallocatechine-3-gallate (EGCG), which is found in green tea leaves may be beneficial for people with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis, which are fatal medical conditions associated with bone marrow disorders.

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‘A compound in green tea called epigallocatechine-3-gallate (EGCG), prevented the dangerous accumulation of misshapen antibodies in patients with bone marrow disorders.’

Epigallocatechine-3-gallate (EGCG)

EGCG is a polyphenol compound found in green tea leaves. Patients with bone marrow disorders are susceptible to a fatal condition called light chain amyloidosis. In this condition, the body’s own antibodies become misshapen and can accumulate in the heart and kidneys.

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Lead author of the study, Jan Bieschke from Washington University in St. Louis, US, said, “We wanted to understand how light chain amyloidosis works and how the green tea compound affects this specific protein."

The research team isolated individual light chains amyloid from nine patients with bone marrow disorders, which causes multiple myeloma or amyloidosis. Lab experiments were conducted to determine how the green tea compound affected the light chain proteins.

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Green tea, first discovered in China nearly 5000 years ago, has been linked to many health benefits including preventing coronary heart disease,

In patients with bone marrow disorders, the EGCG compound in green tea pulled the light chain protein into a different type of aggregate, which was not toxic and did not form fibril structures.

The research team found that the EGCG transformed light chain amyloid, preventing the misshapen form from replicating and accumulating dangerously.

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The study is published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a rare disease in which the substance called amyloid build-up in the vital organs. Amyloid is a protein produced in the bone marrow, which can be accumulated in any tissue or organ, including the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system and digestive tract.

The severe form of amyloidosis can be life-threatening organ failure. There is no cure for amyloidosis. However, the symptoms and the production of the amyloid protein can be managed.

Reference:

Amyloidosis - (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amyloidosis/basics/definition/con-20024354)

Source-Medindia