Regulation of cell growth and human papillomavirus 18 E7 expression by estrogen in cervical carcinoma cells

Objective To study the effects of 17β-estradiol (E 2) on the cell growth and human papillomavirus 18 (HPV18) E7 gene expression in cervical carcinoma cells. Methods Cell growth and cell cycle distribution were determined by cytometry and flow cytometry (FCM). HPV18 E7 mRNA expression was detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results ①The growth of HeLa cells was significantly stimulated by E 2 at physiological concentrations (≤1.0 μM)( P 0 001), with the highest growth rate at 0 5 μM of E 2 for five days. However, the proliferation of HeLa cells was markedly suppressed at 5 0 and 10 0 μM of E 2 ( P 0 001). ② The proportion of cells in S phase increased by the treatment of estradiol, with the most obvious effect at 0 5 μM . ③ The mRNA expression of HPV18 E7 significantly increased with estradiol at 0 5 and 1.0 μM. Conclusions 17β-estradiol can stimulate the growth of cervical carcinoma cells at low concentrations (≤1 0 μM), increase the proportion of cells in S phase, and suppress the growth of HeLa cells at high concentrations (≥5 0 μM). 17β-estrodial can increase HPV18 E7 gene expression in HeLa cells.