Résumé
Objective: To determine the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) kinase signal transduction pathways in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer MGC803 cells. Methods: The viability of MGC803 cells was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis of MGC803 cells was observed by AO/EB fluorescence microscopy and detected by flow cytometry with PI staining. Expression of p38MAPK and phosphorylated p38 (pp38) MAPK were determined by Western blot analysis. Results: EGCG induced apoptosis of MGC803 cells and apparently increased the activity of pp38MAPK in MGC803 cells. However, after interference with pp38MAPK inhibitor, the inhibitory effect of EGCG on MGC803 cells was significantly weakened. The apoptotic rate of the cells and the activity of pp38MAPK also decreased dramatically. Conclusions: EGCG can induce apoptosis of MGC803 cells. The effects could be markedly suppressed by pp38MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. EGCG induces apoptosis of MGC803 cells partly by activating p38 MAPK.