title: (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate causes internalization of the epidermal growth factor receptor in human colon cancer cells.
abstract: We recently found that the inhibitory effect of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with alterations in lipid organization in the plasma membrane of colon cancer cells. Since changes in lipid organizations are thought to play a role in the trafficking of several membrane proteins, in this study we examined the effects of EGCG on cellular localization of the EGFR in SW480 cells. Treatment of the cells for 30 min with as little as 1 microg/ml of EGCG caused a decrease in cell surface-associated EGFRs and this was associated with internalization of EGFRs into endosomal vesicles. Similar effects were seen with a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-EGFR fusion protein. As expected, the EGFR protein was phosphorylated at tyrosine residues, ubiquitinated and partially degraded when the cells were treated with EGF, but treatment with EGCG caused none of these effects. The loss of EGFRs from the cell surface induced by treating the cells with EGF for 30 min persisted for at least 2 h. However, the loss of EGFRs from the cell surface induced by temporary exposure to EGCG was partially restored within 1-2 h. These studies provide the first evidence that EGCG can induce internalization of EGFRs into endosomes, which can recycle back to the cell surface. This sequestrating of inactivated EGFRs into endosomes may explain, at least in part, the ability of EGCG to inhibit activation of the EGFR and thereby exert anticancer effects.
authors.affiliation: Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, HHSC-1509, 701 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032-2704, USA.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: To
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsushima-Nishiwaki
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kozawa
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
authors.forename: Frederick R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Maxfield
authors.forename: I Bernard
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010766:Phosphorylation; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D025801:Ubiquitin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D066246:ErbB Receptors