Green tea extract and hydroxyl-chloroquine combination enhances apoptosis in A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells

Polyphenols, including catechins from green tea extract, have long been known for their potential anti-tumour activities. However, the precise mechanisms underlying their actions remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of green tea extract on A549 cells, a type of non-small lung cancer cells. A549 cells treated with green tea extract (GTE) were examined using an inverted light microscope and a fluorescence microscope. Cell sensitivity was evaluated using the MTT assay, while cell death was assessed using the Tali image-based cytometer. Ultra structural changes were observed using a transmission electron microscope. The findings suggested that even at the highest dose tested (150 µM), GTE did not exhibit toxic effects on A549 cells. Likewise, treatment with GTE resulted in a minimal, dose-dependent increase in the population of apoptotic cells. However, the analysis of cell structures using light and electron microscopy revealed an enhanced accumulation of vacuole-like structures in response to GTE. Moreover, under the fluorescence microscope, an increase in acidic vesicular organelles and the formation of LC3-II puncta were observed following GTE treatment. Assessment of autophagy function indicated that GTE-induced autophagy may serve as a self-protective mechanism against cytotoxicity, as blocking autophagy with bafilomycin A1 reduced cell viability and enhanced necrotic cell death in response to GTE treatment. In summary, our results demonstrate that A549 cells are insensitive to both low and high concentrations of green tea extract, likely due to the induction of cytoprotective autophagy. These findings suggest that the potential utility of GTE in lung cancer therapy may lie in its synergistic combinations with drugs or small molecules that target autophagy, rather than as a standalone therapy.