title: Effects of retinoic acid on proliferation and differentiation of a human ovarian carcinoma cell line: 3AO.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of retinoic acid (RA) on the proliferation and differentiation of a human ovarian carcinoma cell line: 3AO cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  3AO cell proliferation was evaluated by viable cell count, percentage of cells in each cycle phase were analyzed by flow cytometric analysis, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity was determined as described, and CA125 expression was measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RA could inhibit the proliferation of 3AO cells accompanied with morphological changes in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis indicated that RA inhibition of 3AO cells growth occurred through induction of G1 arrest with a concomitant reduction in the proportion of cells in S phase, AKP activity increased significantly after treatment with RA (0.1 micromol/L) for 1-5 days. Dose-response studies revealed that the AKP activity increased to a different extent as a function of RA concentrations. Furthermore, RA could suppress the expression of CA125 tumor marker in 3AO cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RA could markedly inhibit the proliferation and induce the differentiation of 3AO cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433. Mingjuanxu68@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Ming-Juan
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Yu-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C549756:NBR1 protein, human; D011506:Proteins; D014212:Tretinoin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase