EGCG ameliorates inflammatory responses in the obstructive kidney of UUO mice. (A) F4/80 immunostaining and quantification. F4/80-positive staining, as a macrophage marker, was increased in UUO mice, and this increase could be reversed by EGCG treatment. (B) Chemokine gene expression and protein secretion. (C) Inflammatory cytokine gene expression and protein secretion. UUO induced an increase in the expression and secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, MCP-3, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β; EGCG treatment prevented the increases in these genes. All values are the mean ± SD; n=6. ##p<0.01 versus sham group; §§p<0.01 versus sham + EGCG group; **p<0.01 versus UUO group. Scale, 40 μm.