(-)Epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin enhance survival signaling in response to oxidant-induced human endothelial apoptosis

We reported recently that (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis through modulation of the expression of apoptosis-related Bcl-2 and Bax in endothelial cells. This study attempted to identify possible regulatory sites and mechanisms of antiapoptotic flavonoids, focusing on ROS-mediated signaling in HUVEC. The effects of apigenin on the signaling pathway downstream were compared. Submillimolar H2O2 caused > 30% cell killing with intracellular oxidant generation. H2O2-induced oxidant generation markedly decreased total intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels. Micromolar (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin partially eliminated the dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF) and phospho-p53 staining, suggesting that these flavonoids inhibited the accumulation of intracellular oxidants and nuclear transactivation of p53 in H2O2-exposed cells. In contrast, cells treated with apigenin remained DCF and phospho-p53 staining positive in response to H2O2(-)Epigallocatechin gallate significantly raised the total GSH level that had been depleted by H2O2. Caspase-3 activity was enhanced by H2O2, and this increase was inhibited by (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin. Additionally, the upregulation of caspase-3 activation was reversed by these flavonoids at >= 10 mu mol/L; these inhibitory effects were dose dependent. Western blot data revealed that H2O2 upregulated phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which was rapidly reversed by quercetin within 30 min; H2O2 activation of c-Jun was downregulated. (-)Epigallocatechin gallate inhibited H2O2-induced phosphorylation of JNK and p38 MAPK after 60 min. These results reveal that quercetin blocks JNK- and p38 MAPK-related signaling triggered by the oxidant and may regulate expression of apoptotic downstream genes, preventing apoptosis and promoting cell survival. (-)Epigallocatechin gallate may function as an antiapoptotic agent through other antiapoptotic pathways.