Study of 2-methoxyestrodial inducing apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells

Objective To investigate the effects of 2-methoxyestrodial (2-ME)on the apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells and explore its mechanisms.Methods Human ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR-3 cells and primary cultured cells were treated with 2-ME.Cell viability was examined by MTT as-say.Apoptosis was determined Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and flow cytometry.Mitochondrial membrane potential(△Ψm)was analyzed by JC-1 staining and flow cytometry.Caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity was measured by colorimetric assay kits.Results 2-ME inhibited viability in OVCAR-3 cells(100%vs70.5%)and primary cultured cells(100%vs 61.8%),increased apoptosis in OVCAR-3 cells(5.3%vs 40.5%)and primary cultured cells(5.4%vs 36.9%),decreased △Ψm and increased caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity in ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR-3 cells and primary cultured cells.In addition,its effects could be reversed by pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD.Conclusion 2-ME can induce apoptasis in hu-man ovarian cancer cells by activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Key words: Estradiol/PD; Ovarian Neoplasms/PP; Apoptosis/DE