Experimental study on apoptosis in endometrial carcinoma cell induced by 2-methoxyestradiol

Objective:To investigate the effect of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) induction on apoptosis in human endometrial cell line KLE in vitro.Methods:Endometrial cancer cell line KLE originated from human endometrial adenocarcinoma was cultured in vitro and divided into study group (2-ME in different concentrations) and control group without 2-ME. Cell cycle and apoptotic percentage were detected by flow cytometry (FCM); morphological changes of apoptotic cells were observed by electronmicroscopy; immunohistochemical technique was used to determine the expression of p53 and bcl-2. Results:After treatment with 2-ME, the enhanced G0/G1 arrest was accompanied with the enhanced apoptotic peak and percentage, as well apoptotic cells were found more than those in control group.(P0. 05) . By electron microscopy, there were many morphological characteristics of apoptosis including compaction and margination of nuclear chromosome and apoptotic bodies, and there was significant decrease in the expression of p53 and bcl-2 positive rate.Conclusion:2-ME could induce the apoptosis of KLE cells in vitro.