This is an interventional study intended to test inhibition of a signaling pathway in vivo in patients with interstitial lung disease, but not intended to affect lung function or disease modifications. Doses of oral Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) that achieve plasma levels known to be safe in human volunteers and likely to target fibroblast TGFbeta RI kinase will be established. Disposable fragments of biopsies will be evaluated in biochemical assays including pSmad3 and Snail 1 or assayed to determine lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) protein and LOXL2 enzyme activity. Urine collected before and after EGCG exposure will be used to determine whether terminal collagen cross-link breakdown products, termed pyridinoline/deoxypyridinoline (PYD/DPD) are changed from baseline. Blood collected before and after EGCG exposure will be assayed for serum biomarkers.
This is a two part study. In the first part, the pharmacokinetic profile of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in normal human volunteers given a single oral dose will be determined to set the dose for the second part of the study. In the second part of this study, lung biopsy fragments and urine samples from patients with interstitial lung disease treated with EGCG will be evaluated in biochemical assays and compared to samples from untreated control patients.