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.