title: Nonoxynol-9 induces apoptosis of endometrial explants by both caspase-dependent and -independent apoptotic pathways.
abstract: Contraceptive microbicides formulated as vaginal gels offer the possibility of women-controlled contraception and prevention of HIV infection. The effects of these gels on the upper reproductive tract are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nonoxynol-9 (N-9) induces apoptosis in human endometrium using endometrial explant as a model. Apoptosis was determined by gel electrophoresis for the detection of DNA fragmentation and by immunohistochemistry using the M30 CytoDEATH and anti-cleaved caspase-3 (CASP3) antibodies for the detection of caspase activity. The ability of the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor and CASP3-specific inhibitor to prevent N-9-induced cell death was measured. Expression of apoptosis-related genes such as BCL2, BAX, Fas receptor (FAS), and Fas ligand (FASLG) was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. This study demonstrated that N-9 induced DNA fragmentation and caspase activity in endometrial explants in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Caspase inhibitors did not fully prevent the N-9-induced DNA fragmentation. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that FAS and FASLG were largely increased following N-9 treatment. Together, these results suggested that apoptosis triggered by N-9 in endometrial explants is mediated upstream via FAS and FASLG, followed by CASP3 activation leading to final cell death. It appears that other factors besides caspases are also involved in the N-9-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. jjain@usc.edu
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Nucatola
authors.forename: Parviz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minoo
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Felix
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001706:Biopsy; D053148:Caspase 3; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000502:physiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017137:Nonoxynol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; C494826:BAX protein, human; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C110772:benzoylcarbonyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-fluoromethyl ketone; C096713:benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl fluoromethyl ketone; D019014:fas Receptor; D017137:Nonoxynol; D012313:RNA; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases