Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 activation by (-)-epicatechin gallate: potential adverse effects of cancer chemoprevention with high-dose green tea extracts.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that induces oxygen-regulated genes in response to reduced oxygen conditions (hypoxia). Expression of the oxygen-regulated HIF-1alpha subunit correlates positively with advanced disease stages and poor prognosis in cancer patients. Green tea catechins are believed to be responsible for the cancer chemopreventive activities of green tea. We found that (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG, 1), one of the major green tea catechins, strongly activates HIF-1 in T47D human breast carcinoma cells. Among the green tea catechins tested, 1 demonstrated the strongest HIF-1-inducing activity, while (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG, 2) was significantly less active. However, 2 is relatively unstable in the in vitro system studied. Compound 1 also increases the expression of HIF-1 target genes including GLUT-1, VEGF, and CDKN1A. In T47D cells, 1 induces nuclear HIF-1alpha protein without affecting HIF-1alpha mRNA. Both the induction of HIF-1alpha protein and activation of HIF-1 by 1 can be blocked by iron and ascorbate, indicating that 1 may activate HIF-1 through the chelation of iron. These results suggest that intended cancer chemoprevention with high-dose green tea extracts may be compromised, by the ability of tea catechins to promote tumor cell survival pathways associated with HIF-1 activation.
Zhou
Yu-Dong
YD
National Center for Natural Products Research and Department of Pharmacognosy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 1848, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, USA. ydzhou@olemiss.edu
Kim
Yong-Pil
YP
Li
Xing-Cong
XC
Baerson
Scott R
SR
Agarwal
Ameeta K
AK
Hodges
Tyler W
TW
Ferreira
Daneel
D
Nagle
Dale G
DG
D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013662:Tea; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000187:drug effects
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D013662:Tea; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002392:Catechin; C062669:epicatechin gallate