Epigenetic modifications are involved in
cancer pathogenesis, and HDACis are considered potential therapeutic agents. We and others have shown the inhibitory activity of EGCG on HDAC1. But little is known about the effect of EGCG as on epigenetic regulation in
cancer. Here, we try to demonstrate that EGCG acts as an HDACi downregulated APP expression, which was pathophysiologically upregulated in
cancers and exerts a key role in
cancer cell growth. We used PC-12 cells, SK-N-SH cells and primary
tumor tissues for our analysis. Male 4-week-old athymic nude mice were used for heterotopic
tumor growth assay. We employed Western blotting analysis to detect Bcl-2, Bax, APP,
caspase-3,
caspase-7, HDAC1 and H4Ac. We used AnnexinV-
FITC and TUNEL staining for apoptosis detection.
Tumor tissues were examined by immunohistochemical staining. We demonstrated that EGCG suppresses the growth of xenografted adrenal
pheochromocytoma. Flow cytometry analysis and TUNEL staining showed that EGCG induced the apoptosis. Treatment with EGCG resulted in decrease in Bcl-2 but increase in Bax and activated
caspase-3 and
caspase-7.
HDAC inhibitor EGCG leaded to hyperacetylated
histone H4 by immunofluorescence. EGCG decreased APP levels by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis. Silencing specific to HDAC1 leaded to
caspase-3 and
caspase-7 activation and cleavage. Our results are the first to demonstrate a functional interaction between EGCG and APP in suppression
tumor growth, and provide a new epigenetic effects of EGCG on antitumor.