Inhibition of bcl-x(l) phosphorylation by tea polyphenols or epigallocatechin-3-gallate is associated with prostate cancer cell apoptosis.

Prostate cancer cells demonstrate slow growth kinetics and chemoresistance. Tea polyphenols have been shown to exert prostate cancer-preventative effects. Here we report that growth-arrested prostate cancer cells expressed high levels of a hyperphosphorylated Bcl-X(L) in mitochondria. Treatment with tea polyphenols or the major tea component epigallocatechin-3-gallate blocked expression of the hyper-, but not hypophosphorylated Bcl-X(L) in mitochondria, accompanied by cytochrome c release, caspase activation, and apoptosis. Studies using specific inhibitors suggest that tea inhibits p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and the proteasome activities, leading to inhibition of Bcl-X(L) phosphorylation and induction of prostate cancer cell death.