Effects of EGCG on apoptosis of human bladder carcinoma T24 cells

Objective To study the effects of EGCG on apoptosis of T24 cells in vitro and to identify the relative signaling pathway(s).Methods The induction of apoptosis by EGCG was measured by analyzing cell morphology and by PI staining and the annexin V method.Alterations of activating(phospho-) PI3K/Akt pathway were determined by Western blot.The roles of caspase 3 and PARP in induction of apoptosis were analyzed at the same time.Results EGCG could induce significant apoptosis in dose-dependent manner after T24 cells had been treated with EGCG for 24 hours.EGCG could lead to activation of caspase-3 and PARP proteins and down-regulation of protein expression of phospho-Thr308-Akt and phospho-Ser473-Akt without any effect on total Akt expression in T24 cells.Conclusion EGCG can induce apoptosis of T24 cells which may be induced by the way of prohibiting activating(phospho-) PI3K/Akt pathway.