Effects of matcha tea extract on cell viability and estrogen receptor-β expression on MCF-7 breast cancer cells

TL;DR

This study shows that matcha tea extract reduces the viability of breast cancer cells and lowers estrogen receptor-beta at the protein level.

Contribution

The novel finding is that MTE specifically reduces ERβ protein expression in MCF-7 cells without affecting gene expression.

Findings

MTE at 10 µg/ml significantly reduced MCF-7 cell viability after 72 hours.

MTE at 10 µg/ml caused a significant decrease in ERβ protein levels.

ERβ gene expression was not significantly affected by MTE treatment.

Abstract

In the following work, we investigated the effect of matcha green tea extract (MTE) on MCF-7 breast cancer cell viability and estrogen receptor-beta expression (ERβ).

MCF-7 cells were stimulated with MTE at concentrations of 5 and 10 µg/ml. Cell viability was assessed using a water-soluble tetrazolium assay (WST-1 assay) after an incubation time of 72 h. ERβ was quantified at gene level by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A western blot (WB) was carried out for the qualitative assessment of the expression behavior of on a protein level.

The WST-1 test showed a significant inhibition of viability in MFC-7 cells after 72 h at 10 µg/ml. The WB demonstrated a significant quantitative decrease of ERβ at protein level with MTE concentrations of 10 µg/ml. In contrast, the PCR did not result in significant downregulation of ERβ.

MTE decreases the cell viability of MCF-7 cells and furthermore leads to a decrease of ERβ at protein level.

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