Background: Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been implicated in carcinogenesis of human colorectal cancer which is one of the leading types of cancer in Western countries.
Materials and methods: We analyzed the COX-2 expression and activity using RT-PCR, Western blot, immunocytochemistry, RP-HPLC and EIA analysis in 0% and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) cultured cells.
Results: HT 29 cl.19A cells exhibited a COX-2 expression called "constitutive" in the absence of FBS in culture media. This particular expression was not the result of a mutation of the HT29 cl.19A COX-2 gene promotor.
Conclusion: In our study, the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT29 cl.19A, expressed COX-2 abnormally. This expression appeared to be at the same time inducible by the action of classical exogenous inducers such as FBS or interleukin-1 beta and "constitutive" if none of these compounds were present.