EGCG protects intestines of mice and pelvic cancer patients against radiation injury via the gut microbiota/D-tagatose/AMPK axis

Background and purpose

Radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII) compromises the clinical utility of pelvic radiotherapy (RT). We aimed to explore the protective effect and underlying mechanism of (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on RIII.

Materials and methods

We evaluated the protective effect of EGCG on intestine in RIII mouse model and pelvic cancer patients, while explored the underlying mechanism through (1) 16S rRNA sequencing, (2) metabolomic profiles, (3) fresh sterile fecal filtrate (SFF) transplantation, and (4) transcriptome sequencing.

Results

EGCG efficiently prevented RIII in mouse, as reflected by improved survival, alleviated intestinal structure damage, promoted intestinal regeneration, and ameliorated gut microbiota dysbiosis. Prophylactic EGCG intervention reduced the severity of RIII in patients receiving pelvic RT. Mechanistically, the protective effect of EGCG could be transferred to other mice by SFF transplantation. EGCG enriched gut microbiota-derived metabolite D-tagatose, and oral administration of D-tagatose reproduced the radio-protective effect of EGCG via activating AMPK.

Conclusion

Oral EGCG may be a promising strategy for preventing RIII clinically, and warrant further investigation in prospective randomized phase III trials.