These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Black tea protects immunocytes from tumor-induced apoptosis by changing Bcl-2/Bax ratio.
    Author: Bhattacharyya A, Mandal D, Lahiry L, Sa G, Das T.
    Journal: Cancer Lett; 2004 Jun 25; 209(2):147-54. PubMed ID: 15159016.
    Abstract:
    It is known that cancer is associated with altered immune function. We demonstrated earlier that black tea inhibits tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. Here, we report that apoptosis was the cause of immunocyte death in Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC)-bearing mice and anti-tumor dose of black tea restored EAC-induced immunosuppression by inhibiting apoptosis. A search for the molecular mechanism revealed that EAC burden increased the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins p53 and Bax in splenic lymphocytes although did not change the level of pro-proliferative protein Bcl-2. Interestingly, anti-tumor dose of black tea down-regulated p53, decreased Bax while augmenting Bcl-2 in these cells. As a result, Bcl-2/Bax ratio was increased and the immunocytes were protected from tumor-induced apoptosis. Thus, unlike many other anti-cancer agents, black tea is not only devoid of immunosuppressive effect but also acts as immuno-restorer in tumor-bearing host. These results, thus, raise the possibility of inclusion of black tea in successful therapeutic regimen against cancer.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]