Objective：To investigate the effect of high glucose on the production of reactive oxygen species and type IV collagen in human mesangial cells and the intervention of tea polyphenols(TPs)．Methods：The cells were cultured in high glucose with or without TPs up to 36 h．The supernatants were collected and the activities of SOD and the level of MDA were detected by spectrophotometry．The content of type IV collagen in the media was detected by radi0immun0assay．Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the expression of type IV collagen within the cells．Results：SOD was lowered，MDA increased，while type IV collagen increased in the high glucose media without TPs．However，SOD increased，MDA was lowered，type IV collagen was lowered with TPs compared with that only with high glucose．Conclusion：High glucose contributes to the generation of reactive oxygen species,an increase in type IV collagen produced by human cells and TPs can better control high glucose—induced reactive oxygen species，type IV collagen．