The Apoptotic Effect of Green Tea (−)-Epigallocatechin Gallate on 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes Depends on the Cdk2 Pathway

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 53; no. 14; pp. 5695 - 5701
• Main Authors: Wu, Bo-Tsung, Hung, Pei-Fang, Chen, Hui-Chian, Huang, Rong-Nan, Chang, Hsin-Huei, Kao, Yung-Hsi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 13.07.2005
• Subjects: 3T3 Cells; adipocytes; Adipocytes - cytology; Adipocytes - drug effects; Animals; apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Camellia sinensis - chemistry; Caspase 3; Caspases - metabolism; Catechin - analogs & derivatives; Catechin - pharmacology; CDC2-CDC28 Kinases - genetics; CDC2-CDC28 Kinases - metabolism; Coffee, tea and other stimulative beverage industries; cyclin-dependent kinase; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; cysteine proteinases; DNA Fragmentation; enzyme activity; epigallocatechin gallate; fibroblasts; flavanols; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; green tea; Mice; preadipocytes; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - drug effects; Transfection; Flavanol; 3T3-L1 preadipocyte; epigallocatechin gallate; Enzyme; Transferases; Caspase; apoptosis; Flavonoid; Peptidases; Polyphenol; Kinase; caspase- 3; Hydrolases; cyclin-dependent kinase; Green tea
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf050045p

This study was designed to investigate the effect of green tea catechins, especially (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), on the apoptosis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Preadipocyte apoptosis as indicated by formation of DNA fragments was induced by EGCG in dose-dependent manners. While EGCG was demonstrated to decrease Cdk2 expression and activity and increase caspase-3 activity, overexpression of Cdk2 and treatment with the caspase-3 inhibitor respectively prevented preadipocytes from induction of DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity by doses of 100−400 μM of EGCG. This suggests the Cdk2- and caspase-3-dependent apoptotic effects of EGCG. Moreover, EGCG was more effective than EC, ECG, and EGC in changing the apoptotic signals. Results of this study may relate to the mechanism by which EGCG modulates body weight. Keywords: Green tea; epigallocatechin gallate; 3T3-L1 preadipocyte; cyclin-dependent kinase; caspase-3; apoptosis