Original Article

Effects of glucocorticoid on proliferation, differentiation, and glucocorticoid receptor expression in human ovarian carcinoma cell line 3AO.

Ming-Juan XU, Guo-En FANG, Yu-Jian LIU, Liang-Nian SONG

Abstract

AIM: 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.
CONCLUSION: 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.
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