(−)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells by Suppressing Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway
by
Yue Chen 1
, Xiao-Qian Wang 1, Qi Zhang 1, Jian-Yun Zhu 1, Yuan Li 1, Chun-Feng Xie 1,2, Xiao-Ting Li 1,2, Jie-Shu Wu 1,2, Shan-Shan Geng 1,2, Cai-Yun Zhong 1,2,* and Hong-Yu Han 3,*
Yue Chen 1, Xiao-Qian Wang 1, Qi Zhang 1, Jian-Yun Zhu 1, Yuan Li 1, Chun-Feng Xie 1,2, Xiao-Ting Li 1,2, Jie-Shu Wu 1,2, Shan-Shan Geng 1,2, Cai-Yun Zhong 1,2,* and Hong-Yu Han 3,*
1
Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
2
The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
3
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510060, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2017, 9(6), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9060572
Received: 5 April 2017 / Revised: 25 May 2017 / Accepted: 30 May 2017 / Published: 3 June 2017
The beneficial effects of tea consumption on cancer prevention have been generally reported, while (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major active component from green tea. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in the process of cancer development. Targeting CSCs may be an effective way for cancer intervention. However, the effects of EGCG on colorectal CSCs and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Spheroid formation assay was used to enrich colorectal CSCs from colorectal cancer cell lines. Immunoblotting analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to measure the alterations of critical molecules expression. Immunofluorescence staining analysis was also used to determine the expression of CD133. We revealed that EGCG inhibited the spheroid formation capability of colorectal cancer cells as well as the expression of colorectal CSC markers, along with suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, we illustrated that EGCG downregulated the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin diminished the inhibitory effects of EGCG on colorectal CSCs. Taken together, this study suggested that EGCG could be an effective natural compound targeting colorectal CSCs through suppression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and thus may be a promising agent for colorectal cancer intervention.
View Full-Text
Keywords:
EGCG; colorectal cancer stem cells; Wnt/β-catenin pathway
▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
MDPI and ACS Style
Chen, Y.; Wang, X.-Q.; Zhang, Q.; Zhu, J.-Y.; Li, Y.; Xie, C.-F.; Li, X.-T.; Wu, J.-S.; Geng, S.-S.; Zhong, C.-Y.; Han, H.-Y. (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells by Suppressing Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway. Nutrients 2017, 9, 572.
Show more citation formats
Note that from the first issue of 2016, MDPI journals use article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.
