title: Influence of prostaglandin A2 and 2-methoxyestradiol on Bax and Bcl-2 expression levels in cervical carcinoma cells.
abstract: Proteins of the Bcl-2 family are key regulators of apoptosis. Bax can be regarded as pro-apoptotic, whereas Bcl-2 is perceived as anti-apoptotic. It has been proposed that an increased ratio of pro-apoptotic Bax to anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 can be associated with apoptosis. Since prostaglandin A2 (PGA2) and 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) play an active role in the induction of apoptosis, the influence of 20 microg/ml PGA2 and 1 microM 2-ME was investigated on Bax and Bcl-2 expression levels in cervical carcinoma cells. Both PGA2 and 2-ME exposure led to statistically significant increases in Bax expression levels. Cells were shown to be more susceptible to the effects of 2-ME than to the effects caused by PGA2. In contrast, no statistically significant effects were observed on Bcl-2 expression levels after exposure to PGA2 and 2-ME. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratios for PGA2- and 2-ME-exposed cells were 2.06 and 1.87 respectively, normalised against Bcl-2 levels. Further investigation of the function and regulation of the Bcl-2 family will allow researchers to consider potential pathways of apoptosis signaling mechanisms for diseases where apoptosis can potentially be controlled.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. annie.joubert@up.ac.za
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maritz
authors.forename: Fourie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Joubert
mesh_terms: D000077584:2-Methoxyestradiol; D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D011454:Prostaglandins A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D011454:Prostaglandins A; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D004958:Estradiol; D000077584:2-Methoxyestradiol; C100008:prostaglandin A2