Epigallocatechin-3-gallate increases intracellular [Ca²⁺] in U87 cells mainly by influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ and partly by release of intracellular stores

Green tea has been receiving considerable attention as a possible preventive agent against cancer and cardiovascular disease. Epigallocatechin-3- gallate (EGCG) is a major polyphenol component of green tea. Using digital calcium imaging and an assay for [³H]-inositol phosphates, we determined whether EGCG increases intracellular [Ca²⁺] ([Ca ²⁺]_i) in non-excitable human astrocytoma U87 cells. EGCG induced concentration-dependent increases in [Ca²⁺]_i. The EGCG-induced [Ca²⁺]_i increases were reduced to 20.9% of control by removal of extracellular Ca²⁺. The increases were also inhibited markedly by treatment with the non-specific Ca²⁺ channel inhibitors cobalt (3 mM) for 3 min and lanthanum (1 mM) for 5 min. The increases were not significantly inhibited by treatment for 10 min with the L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker nifedipine (100 nM). Treatment with the inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase thapsigargin (1 μM) also significantly inhibited the EGCG-induced [Ca²⁺]_i increases. Treatment for 15 min with the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor neomycin (300 μM) attenuated the increases significantly, while the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein (30 μM) had no effect. EGCG increased [ ³H]-inositol phosphates formation via PLC activation. Treatment for 10 min with mefenamic acid (100 μM) and flufenamic acid (100 μM), derivatives of diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, blocked the EGCG-induced [Ca ²⁺]_i increase in non-treated and thapsigargin-treated cells but indomethacin (100 μM) did not affect the increases. Collectively, these data suggest that EGCG increases [Ca²⁺]; in non-excitable U87 cells mainly by eliciting influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ and partly by mobilizing intracellular Ca²⁺ stores by PLC activation. The EGCG-induced [Ca²⁺]_i influx is mediated mainly through channels sensitive to diphenylamine-2-carboxylate derivatives.