Effects and Significance of Cinobufagin on the Expression of Aromatase in the Endometrial Carcinoma HHUA Cells

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects and significance of cinobufagin on the expression of aromatase and estrodiol(E2) in the endometrial carcinoma HHUA cells cultured in vitro. Methods The primary culture of normal endometrial cells were taken from patients who did diagnostic curettage for functional uterine bleeding(FUB) in our hospital from 2007 to 2008, and the pathology revealed proliferative endometrial cells as the normal endometrial cells(group A, n=30). The pathology revealed as the endometrial carcinoma HHUA cells which were divided into two parts. Half of them were classified into endometrial carcinoma HHUA cells group (group B, n=30), and half were cultured in vitro, after the action of cinobufagin into endometrial carcinoma HHUA cells action by cinobufagin group (group C, n=30). The expression of aromatase was measured by RT-PCR, the expression of estrodiol was determined by immunofluorometry, and the cellular apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry. Results Group A neither expressed aromatase mRNA nor synthesize estrodiol, the cellular apoptotic rate was (8.02±0.93)%. Group B could both express aromatase mRNA and synthesize estradiol by the aromatase, and the cellular apoptotic rate was (1.08±0.21)%, which was lower than that of group A(P<0.05). After the action of cinobufagin(group C), aromatase mRNA expression and estrodiol synthesis of endometrial carcinoma HHUA cells were significantly down-regulated, the cellular apoptotic rate was (27.14±4.12)%, which was lower than that of group B (P<0.05). Conclusion The endometrial carcinoma HHUA cells can synthesize endogenous estradiol by aromatase. The cinobufagin may inhibit the expression of aromatase mRNA and the synthesis of the estrodiol, resulting the inhibition of endometrial carcinoma cells' proliferation. Key words: cinobufagin; endometrial carcinoma HHUA cell; aromatase; estrodiol(E2); apoptosis