GABA tea prevents cardiac fibrosis by attenuating TNF-alpha and Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Shur-Hueih Cherng; Chih-Yang Huang; Wei-Wen Kuo; Shue-Er Lai; Chien-Yu Tseng; Yueh-Min Lin; Fuu-Jen Tsai; Hsueh-Fang Wang

doi:10.1016/j.fct.2013.12.022

GABA tea prevents cardiac fibrosis by attenuating TNF-alpha and Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Food Chem Toxicol. 2014 Mar:65:90-6. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.12.022. Epub 2013 Dec 27.

Authors

Shur-Hueih Cherng¹, Chih-Yang Huang², Wei-Wen Kuo³, Shue-Er Lai⁴, Chien-Yu Tseng⁵, Yueh-Min Lin⁶, Fuu-Jen Tsai⁷, Hsueh-Fang Wang⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biotecnology, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43302, Taiwan.
² Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan.
³ Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Nutrition, Graduate Programs of Biomedical Nutrition, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43302, Taiwan; Department of Nutrition, Chung-Kang Branch, Cheng Ching Hospital, Taichung 40764, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Nutrition, Graduate Programs of Biomedical Nutrition, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43302, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Pathology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 50094, Taiwan; Department of Medical Technology, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli 35664, Taiwan, Republic of China.
⁷ Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Nutrition, Graduate Programs of Biomedical Nutrition, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43302, Taiwan. Electronic address: fang54@hk.edu.tw.

PMID: 24374093
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.12.022

Abstract

GABA tea is a tea product that contains a high level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This study investigated the effects of GABA tea on the heart in a diabetic rat model. Male Wistar rats were injected with 55mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes for 2weeks and then orally given dosages of 4.55 and 45.5mg/kg/day GABA tea extract for 6weeks. The results revealed that fasting blood glucose levels returned to normal levels in GABA tea-treated diabetic rats, but not in the untreated diabetic rats. Additionally, GABA tea effectively inhibited cardiac fibrosis induced by STZ. Further experiments showed that the STZ-induced protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Fas, activated caspase-8 and caspase-3 were significantly inhibited by the GABA tea treatment. Therefore, our data suggest that the inhibiting effect of GABA tea on STZ-induced cardiac fibrosis in diabetic rats may be mediated by reducing blood glucose and further attenuating TNF-alpha expression and/or Fas/Fas ligand (FasL)-mediated apoptosis. These findings will provide implications for the potential anti-diabetic properties of GABA tea.

Keywords: Diabetes; Fas; GABA tea; Heart; TNF-alpha.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Apoptosis*
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology*
Fas Ligand Protein / physiology*
Fibrosis
Heart Diseases / prevention & control*
Male
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Streptozocin
Tea*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / physiology*
fas Receptor / physiology*
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / administration & dosage*

Substances

Fas Ligand Protein
Tea
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
fas Receptor
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Streptozocin