(-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG)-induced apoptosis in normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast (NRK-49F) cells.

(-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG), a major catechin in green tea, suppresses renal failure in animals, and inhibits the growth of mesangial cells and opossum kidney proximal tubular cells. In addition, gallic acid, a structural constituent of this catechin, induces apoptosis in tumor cell lines. However, the effects of catechins on renal fibroblastic cells have not been investigated. In this experiment, the growth of normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast (NRK-49F) cells was significantly inhibited by EGCG at concentrations higher than 6.25 microM, and almost completely inhibited at concentrations over 200 microM. The numbers of in situ end-labeled (ISEL) cells in cultures treated with EGCG at 6.25 to 200 microM increased dose-dependently. Furthermore, exposure to 6.25 to 50 microM EGCG for 24 hr led to a significant increase in caspase-3 activity compared to the control. These results suggest that EGCG induces apoptosis in NRK-49F cells.