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

The effects of 20 μg/ml exogenous prostaglandin A2 (PGA2) were evaluated on cell numbers in HeLa (human epithelial cervix carcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma) cells. In HeLa cells, PGA2 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, PGA2 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 PGA2, when optimal effects were observed. HeLa and MCF-7 cells exposed to PGA2, 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 G0/G1 peak after 48 h of exposure, which is indicative of apoptotic body formation.