Effects of Catechins on the Formation of Collagen Fibrils In Vitro

Some aspects of the therapeutic effect of catechins are associated with their effect on the deposition of collagen fibrils in tissues. This process is believed to be under the control of the signaling and regulatory systems of cells affected by catechins, but the direct interaction of polyphenols with structural proteins cannot be excluded. In the present work, we investigated the direct effect of (+)-catechin and epigallocatechin gallate on the formation of collagen fibrils in vitro. Using turbidimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and transmission electron microscopy, we have shown that (+)-catechin accelerates the formation of type I collagen fibrils, with the resulting fibrils having a protein-specific structure and thermal stability, whereas epigallocatechin gallate at a concentration of 10 μM inhibits fibrillogenesis. The obtained results expand our insights into possible mechanisms of therapeutic action of catechins, demonstrating the possibility of direct interaction of (+)-catechin and epigallocatechin gallate with collagen monomers and fibrils, and may be useful in the development of new drugs containing these plant polyphenols or their synthetic analogs.