PMID: 16525653Mar 10, 2006Paper

Effects of progesterone and anti-progestin (mifepristone) treatment on proliferation and apoptosis of the human ovarian cancer cell line, OVCAR-3

Oncology Reports
Raffaèle FauvetEmile Daraï

Abstract

The study examined the effects of various progesterone and mifepristone concentrations on the proliferation and apoptosis of the human ovarian cancer cell line, OVCAR-3. OVCAR-3 cells were incubated with progesterone and mifepristone at concentrations ranging from 10(-3) to 10(-9) M. Proliferation and apoptosis were studied by means of inverted optical microscopy, DAPI staining, and crystal violet assay. Immunoblotting was used to study the regulation of the apoptosis-related proteins, bcl-2, caspase-3 and PARP, after incubation with various reagents. OVCAR-3 cell density was increased by progesterone concentrations of 10(-5) M or less, and decreased by 10(-3) M progesterone. DAPI staining showed no apoptotic bodies. Mifepristone concentrations of 10(-3) and 10(-4) M reduced the OVCAR-3 cell density. Immunoblotting showed PARP cleavage in the presence of mifepristone 10(-4) M. Caspase-3 and bcl-2 expression was reduced by mifepristone 10(-4) and 10(-7) M. These results suggest that progesterone has a paradoxical effect on OVCAR-3 cell proliferation, stimulating it at low concentrations and inhibiting it at high concentrations, potentially through a caspase-independent non-apoptotic death pathway. Mifepristone seems to inhibit O...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

BCL-2 Family Proteins

BLC-2 family proteins are a group that share the same homologous BH domain. They play many different roles including pro-survival signals, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and removal or damaged cells. They are often regulated by phosphorylation, affecting their catalytic activity. Here is the latest research on BCL-2 family proteins.

Apoptotic Caspases

Apoptotic caspases belong to the protease enzyme family and are known to play an essential role in inflammation and programmed cell death. Here is the latest research.

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis