Effects of catechin on homocysteine metabolism in hyperhomocysteinemic mice

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Mar 30;355(1):221-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.01.142. Epub 2007 Feb 2.

Abstract

We have recently focused on the interaction between hyperhomocysteinemia, defined by high plasma homocysteine levels, and paraoxonase-1 expression and found a reduced activity of paraoxonase-1 associated with a reduced gene expression in the liver of cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) deficient mice, a murine model of hyperhomocysteinemia. As it has been demonstrated that polyphenolic compounds could modulate the expression level of the paraoxonase-1 gene in vitro, we have investigated the possible effect of flavonoid supplementation on the impaired paraoxonase-1 gene expression and activity induced by hyperhomocysteinemia and have evaluated the link with homocysteine metabolism. High-methionine diet significantly increased serum homocysteine levels, decreased hepatic CBS activity, and down-regulated paraoxonase-1 mRNA and its activity. However, chronic administration of catechin but not quercetin significantly reduced plasma homocysteine levels, attenuated the reduction of the hepatic CBS activity, and restored the decreased paraoxonase-1 gene expression and activity induced by chronic hyperhomocysteinemia. These data suggest that catechin could act on the homocysteine levels by increasing the rate of catabolism of homocysteine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Catechin / pharmacology*
  • Cystathionine beta-Synthase / genetics
  • DNA Primers
  • Homocysteine / metabolism*
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / genetics
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / metabolism*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Methionine / administration & dosage
  • Methionine / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA / isolation & purification
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Homocysteine
  • RNA
  • Catechin
  • Methionine
  • Sod1 protein, mouse
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1
  • Cystathionine beta-Synthase