Induction of apoptosis by green tea catechins in human prostate cancer DU145 cells

Green tea catechins (GTCs) including (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) and (-)-epicat echin (EC) were shown to suppress cell growth and induce apoptosis in vario us cell systems in addition to their chemo-preventive effect. In this study , except EC which was inactive, green tea extract (TE) and other 3 GTCs wer e found to suppress the growth and induce apoptosis in human prostate cance r DU145 cells largely through an increase in reactive oxygen species format ion and mitochondrial depolarization. The conclusion was supported by the f act that the profiles for different GTCs in growth suppression, apoptosis i nduction, ROS formation and mitochondrial depolarization are in a similar o rder, i.e. ECG > EGCG > EGC > EC. Although the molecular mechanisms are sti ll not clear, apoptosis induced by GTCs is not related to the members of BC L-2 family as EGCG did not alter the expression of BCL-2, BCL-X-L and BAD i n DU145 cells. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.