Steroids and growth of a human cell line stemming from a carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
The effect of different steroids on the growth of a human cell line, was examined in NHIK 3025 cells, derived from a carcinoma of the uterine cervix. When this cell line was grown in Eagle's minimal essential medium (MEM) for 4 days, addition to the medium of estradiol-17 beta in concentrations ranging from 10(-9) to 10(-7) M did not promote significant cell growth. Stimulated growth was observed with testosterone in these concentrations, with maximal effect (29% above control) at 10(-7) M. 5alpha-Dihydrotestosterone over the range 10(-9)--10(-6) M gave no such effect. 4-Androstene-3,17-dione, 5alpha-androstan-3alpha,17beta-diol and 5alpha-androstan-3beta,17beta-diol had no significant effect on cell proliferation at a concentration of 10(-7) M, while 4-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol augmented cell number to values 50-60% higher than those of control cultures. The observed increase in cell number was due to a shortening of the cell cycle and to a higher plating efficiency. Thus, cell line NHIK 3025 has not the responsiveness to estradiol-17beta of normal uterine cells. The data suggest that testosterone and/or 4-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol may be growth factors for this cell line.
D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000494:pharmacology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D000728:Androgens; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol