Effects of glucocorticoid on proliferation, differentiation, and glucocorticoid receptor expression in human ovarian carcinoma cell line 3AO.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid, on proliferation, differentiation, glucocorticoid receptor expression and regulation in human ovarian cancer cell line 3AO.


METHODS
3AO cells proliferation was evaluated by viable cell count, activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and tumor marker CA125 level were determined; the expression and regulation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in 3AO cells was studied with radioligand binding assay.


RESULTS
Dex inhibited the proliferation of 3AO cells accompanied by morphological changes in concentration- and time- dependent manner. AKP activity was increased and tumor marker CA125 was decreased in 3AO cells after treatment with Dex. The induction of AKP activity by dexamethasone was blocked by RU486, a potent glucocorticoid antagonist. There existed high affinity and low capacity of GR in 3AO cells, and the GR binding activity could be downregulated by Dex.


CONCLUSIONS
Glucocorticoids play an important role in the regulation of 3AO cell proliferation and differentiation. There existed functional GR in 3AO cells and the cellular effects of dexamethasone on 3AO cells were mediated by GR.
Xu
Ming-Juan
MJ
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. mingjuan_Xu@yahoo.com.
Fang
Guo-En
GE
Liu
Yu-Jian
YJ
Song
Liang-Nian
LN
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase