Green tea polyphenol (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate prevents ultraviolet-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells
10.11620/IJOB.2020.45.4.179
- Author:
Su-Mi WOO
1
;
Yoon-Jung KIM
;
Bangrong CAI
;
Sam-Young PARK
;
Young KIM
;
Ok Joon KIM
;
In-Chol KANG
;
Won-Jae KIM
;
Ji-Yeon JUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Oral Physiology, Dental Science Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:International Journal of Oral Biology
2020;45(4):179-189
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Green tea polyphenol (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent antioxidant with protective effects against neurotoxicity. However, it is currently unclear whether EGCG protects neuronal cells against radiation-induced damage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of EGCG on ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells. The effects of UV irradiation included apoptotic cell death, which was associated with DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enhanced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. UV irradiation also increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and mitochondrial pathway-associated cytochrome c expression. However, pretreatment with EGCG before UV exposure markedly decreased UV-induced DNA fragmentation and ROS production. Furthermore, the UV irradiationinduced increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cytochrome c upregulation, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation were each ameliorated by EGCG pretreatment. Additionally, EGCG suppressed UV-induced phosphorylation of p38 and rescued UV-downregulated phosphorylation of ERK. Taken together, these results suggest that EGCG prevents UV irradiationinduced apoptosis in PC12 cells by scavenging ROS and inhibiting the mitochondrial pathways known to play a crucial role in apoptosis. In addition, EGCG inhibits UV-induced apoptosis via JNK inactivation and ERK activation in PC12 cells. Thus, EGCG represents a potential neuroprotective agent that could be applied to prevent neuronal cell death induced by UV irradiation.
