Abstract
The present study explored the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the cell cycle, proliferation and apoptosis of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE2 in vitro. The proliferation of CNE2 cells was detected using the cell counting kit-8 method. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected using flow cytometry. The human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression was determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions. The protein expression of hTERT and Myc proto-oncogene protein (c-Myc) was observed using western blot analysis. EGCG inhibited the proliferation of CNE2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05) and blocked the cell cycle progression of the cells. In the low concentration (100 μg/ml) group, the cell cycle arrest showed a time-dependent manner. However, as the concentration increased and action time was prolonged, this time dependency became less marked. EGCG promoted the apoptosis of CNE2 cells in a time-dependent manner. In addition, EGCG downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of hTERT and downregulated the expression of c-Myc protein. Downregulation of the expression of hTERT and c-Myc was more evident in the high-dose group (200 μg/mL). In conclusion, EGCG has proliferation-inhibiting, cell cycle-blocking and apoptosis-promoting effects on CNE2 cells. EGCG may be developed into an auxiliary therapeutic agent for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Highlights
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common types of malignancy that frequently occurs in South China andKey words: telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase, epigallocatechin gallate, nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cellsSoutheast Asia
To determine the anti‐NPC mechanisms of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in vitro, we investigated the effect of EGCG on human telomerase reverse transcriptase, the telomerase in the NPC cell line CNE2, as well as on its gene expression
EGCG significantly inhibited the proliferation of CNE2 cells, showing time‐ and concentration‐dependent manners (Fig. 1)
Summary
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common types of malignancy that frequently occurs in South China andSoutheast Asia. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the primary treatment measures for NPC. These measures cause serious adverse reactions and have a tendency to induce multidrug resistance (MDR). Studies have shown that natural components in certain plants exhibit antitumor effects, such as parthenolide in feverfew (chrysanthemum) and tea polyphenols (TPs) in green tea [2,3]. TPs are the primary components in tea ( green tea), and catechin is an important polyphenol compound among TPs. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is an important variety of catechin. A study has shown that EGCG has a marked inhibitory effect on the cells of a number of types of human tumor, and that it induces cell apoptosis by regulating the activity of caspase through different channels [5]
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