The effects of prostaglandin A2 on cell growth, cell cycle status and apoptosis induction in HeLa and MCF-7 cells

The effects of 20 mug/ml exogenous prostaglandin A(2) (PGA(2)) were evaluated on cell numbers in HeLa (human epithelial cervix carcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma) cells. In HeLa cells, PGA(2) reduced cell numbers significantly to 75% after 24 h (P < 0.05) and exposure of 48 h decreased cell numbers to 61% (P < 0.05) of the control. In MCF-7 cells, PGA(2) significantly reduced cell numbers to 48% after 24 h and to 20% after 48 h, compared to vehicle-treated control cells (P < 0.05). The anti-mitogenic effects were confirmed by morphological studies conducted after 48 h of exposure to PGA(2), when optimal effects were observed. HeLa and MCF-7 cells exposed to PGA(2), showed chromatin aggregation, cell membrane blebbing and uneven distribution of chromosomes. Cell cycle progression analysis of HeLa and MCF-7 cells, showed an increase in DNA content preceding the G(0)/G(1) peak after 48 h of exposure, which is indicative of apoptotic body formation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.