(-)-Epicatechin acts as a potent agonist of the membrane androgen receptor, ZIP9 (SLC39A9), to promote apoptosis of breast and prostate cancer cells
Thomas P, Dong J · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · 2021 July
DOI 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.105906
Objective
The potential interactions of (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin with ZIP9 were compared in PC-3 prostate cancer cells transfected with ZIP9 (PC3-ZIP9) with those in PC3 vector controls, and in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells, which express relatively high levels of ZIP9, with those in these cells after treatment with ZIP9 siRNA.
Conclusions
Results of the present study provide clear evidence that the catechins, (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin have high binding affinities for the membrane androgen receptor, ZIP9, and modulate ZIP9-dependent signaling and apoptotic functions in nuclear androgen receptor-null prostate and breast cancer cells. This indicate (-)-epicatechin is a potent ZIP9 agonist in breast and prostate cancer cells.
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