Theanine, an antitumor promoter, induces apoptosis of tumor cells via the mitochondrial pathway.
Mol Med Rep
; 18(5): 4535-4542, 2018 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30221698
ABSTRACT
Theanine, an active component of green tea (Camellia sinensis), is considered a modulator of chemotherapy. To further investigate the anticancer activity of theanine, the present study investigated the cytotoxic effect of theanine at the concentration of 600 µg/ml, in the human HepG2 hepatoblastoma and HeLa adenocarcinoma cell lines, in comparison with the normal L02, H9c2 and HEK293 cell lines using a MTT assay. It was found that theanine induced cell death in the tumor cells, but not in the normal cells. Notably, when glutamine was restricted or reduced in the cell culture medium, the cell death induced by theanine was significantly enhanced. A terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferasemediated dUTP nick end labeling assay indicated that DNA damage was induced in theaninetreated HepG2 cells. Further experiments demonstrated that theanine caused HepG2 cell apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway, with a loss of membrane potential and the release of apoptosisinducing factor, endonuclease G and cytochrome c. Western blot analysis and caspase activity detection also revealed that caspase9 and caspase3 were activated, whereas caspase8 remained inactive. These observations suggested that theanine exerted potent cytotoxicity on tumor cells when glutamine was restricted.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Té
/
Apoptosis
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Glutamatos
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Neoplasias
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mol Med Rep
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article