The effects of prostaglandin A 2 on cell growth, cell cycle status and apoptosis induction in HeLa and MCF-7 cells

Abstract

The effects of 20 μg/ml exogenous prostaglandin A 2 (PGA 2) were evaluated on cell numbers in HeLa (human epithelial cervix carcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma) cells. In HeLa cells, PGA 2 reduced cell numbers significantly to 75% after 24 h ( P<0.05) and exposure of 48 h decreased cell numbers to 61% ( P<0.05) of the control. In MCF-7 cells, PGA 2 significantly reduced cell numbers to 48% after 24 h and to 20% after 48 h, compared to vehicle-treated control cells ( P<0.05). The anti-mitogenic effects were confirmed by morphological studies conducted after 48 h of exposure to PGA 2, when optimal effects were observed. HeLa and MCF-7 cells exposed to PGA 2, showed chromatin aggregation, cell membrane blebbing and uneven distribution of chromosomes. Cell cycle progression analysis of HeLa and MCF-7 cells, showed an increase in DNA content preceding the G 0/G 1 peak after 48 h of exposure, which is indicative of apoptotic body formation.