A new study found that one of the beneficial compounds found in green tea, EGCG, has the ability to increase the number of "regulatory T cells" that play a key role in immune function. The researchers believe they discovered what may be the underlying mechanism for the health benefits of green tea, which has attracted wide interest for its ability to modulate inflammation and support immune function.

Laboratory studies conducted with mice showed that treatment with EGCG significantly increased the numbers and frequencies of regulatory T cells found in spleen and lymph nodes, and in the process helped modulate the immune response.

"This appears to be a natural, plant-derived compound that can affect the number of regulatory T cells, and in the process support immune function," said Emily Ho, a Linus Pauling Institute principal investigator and associate professor in the Oregon State University Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences.

As a natural food product, green tea might provide a long-term, sustainable way to provide health benefits with a very low risk of side effects.

"EGCG may have health benefits through an epigenetic mechanism, meaning we aren't changing the underlying DNA codes, but just influencing what gets expressed, what cells get turned on," Ho said. "And we may be able to do this with a simple, whole-food approach."

The Role of Regulatory T-cells

There are many types of cells that have different roles in the immune system, which is a delicate balancing act of attacking unwanted invaders without damaging normal cells. Some cells exist primarily to help control that problem and dampen or "turn off" the immune system, including regulatory T cells. The number and proper function of those regulatory T cells, in turn, is regulated by other biological processes such as transcription factors and DNA methylation.

Source:

Science Daily