A major constituent of green tea, EGCG, inhibits the growth of a human cervical cancer cell line, CaSki cells, through apoptosis, G(1) arrest, and regulation of gene expression.
A constituent of green tea, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been known to possess antiproliferative properties. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of EGCG in human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 associated cervical cancer cell line, CaSki cells. The growth inhibitory mechanism(s) and regulation of gene expression by EGCG were also evaluated. EGCG showed growth inhibitory effects in CaSki cells in a dose-dependent fashion, with an inhibitory dose (ID)(50) of approximately 35 microM. When CaSki cells were further tested for EGCG-induced apoptosis, apoptotic cells were significantly observed after 24 h at 100 microM EGCG. In contrast, an insignificant induction of apoptotic cells was observed at 35 microM EGCG. However, cell cycles at the G1 phase were arrested at 35 microM EGCG, suggesting that cell cycle arrests might precede apoptosis. When CaSki cells were tested for their gene expression using 384 cDNA microarray, an alteration in the gene expression was observed by EGCG treatment. EGCG downregulated the expression of 16 genes over time more than twofold. In contrast, EGCG upregulated the expression of four genes more than twofold, suggesting a possible gene regulatory role of EGCG. This data supports that EGCG can inhibit cervical cancer cell growth through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest as well as regulation of gene expression in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo antitumor effects of EGCG were also observed. Thus, EGCG likely provides an additional option for a new and potential drug approach for cervical cancer patients.
Ahn
Woong Shick
WS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Huh
Seung Won
SW
Bae
Su-Mi
SM
Lee
Insu P
IP
Lee
Jun Mo
JM
Namkoong
Sung Eun
SE
Kim
Chong Kook
CK
Sin
Jeong-Im
JI
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate