Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology

ISSN for PRINT: 0731-8898

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2005, Volume24

Issue 2

76 pages

DOI: 10.1615/JEnvPathToxOncol.v24.i2

Issue price - $160.00

Debaprasad Mandal
Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata−700 054, India

Lakshmishri Lahiry
Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata−700 054, India

Arindam Bhattacharyya
Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata−700 054, India

Sreya Chattopadhyay
Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata−700 054, India

Maqsood Siddiqi
Department of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute; and Bose Institute, Calcutta, India

Gaurisankar Sa
Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata−700 054, India

Tanya Das
Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata−700 054, India

The accumulated in vitro evidence indicates that many tumors induce T-cell apoptosis as a mechanism of inhibiting antitumor activity. This downregulation of cell-mediated immune functions occurring at the late stages of the disease may be causally related to the thymic involution, because the thymus is the major site of T-cell maturation, extensive proliferation, and differentiation. Our results showed that in Erhlich's ascites carcinoma cell (EAC)-bearing mice, the number of EAC was inversely proportional to the thymocyte count in the host's thymus, which is the primary immune organ. Further studies indicated the presence of tumor-induced thymocyte apoptosis in EAC bearers. Black tea prolonged the survival of the tumor bearer by successfully restricting tumor progression as well as protecting the thymus from tumor insult. In fact, black tea inhibited thymic apoptosis while inducing programmed cell death of EAC. Interestingly, the tea regulated the oxidant status differentially in EAC and thymocytes—i.e., it reduced the EAC-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the thymus while activating the same in the EAC. A similar effect of black tea was obtained when thymocytes were cultured in the presence of cell-free ascitic fluid, thereby indicating that black tea could directly reduce oxidative stress, an activity independent of its tumoricidal property. As a result, the maturation block in thymocyte subpopulations in tumor bearers was ameliorated significantly in black tea-treated animals. Our results demonstrate that black tea protects thymocytes in the tumor bearer by regulating the intracellular ROS in tumor cells and thymocytes differentially, thereby strengthening its candidacy in future anticancer therapeutic regimens.

DOI: 10.1615/JEnvPathToxOncol.v24.i2.30 Download article, 91-104 pages

Article price - $35.00

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