Potent inhibitors of anthrax lethal factor from green tea

• Published in: EMBO reports Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 418 - 422
• Main Authors: Dell'Aica, Isabella, Donà, Massimo, Tonello, Fiorella, Piris, Alejandro, Mock, Michèle, Montecucco, Cesare, Garbisa, Spiridione
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-04-2004; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; anthrax; Antigens, Bacterial; Apoptosis - drug effects; Bacterial Toxins - antagonists & inhibitors; Camellia sinensis - metabolism; Catechin - analogs & derivatives; Catechin - metabolism; Catechin - pharmacology; Green tea; green tea extract; inhibitor; Inhibitors; lethal toxin; Macrophages - drug effects; metalloprotease; Metalloproteases - antagonists & inhibitors; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Scientific Report; Tea - metabolism
• ISSN: 1469-221X; 1469-3178; 1469-221X
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.embor.7400118

The anthrax lethal factor (LF) has a major role in the development of anthrax. LF is delivered by the protective antigen (PA) inside the cell, where it exerts its metalloprotease activity on the N‐terminus of MAPK‐kinases. PA+LF are cytotoxic to macrophages in culture and kill the Fischer 344 rat when injected intravenously. We describe here the properties of some polyphenols contained in green tea as powerful inhibitors of LF metalloproteolytic activity, and how the main catechin of green tea, (−)epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate, prevents the LF‐induced death of macrophages and Fischer 344 rats.