Effect of interferon alpha-2b on endometrioma cells in vitro.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the effect of interferon alpha-2b on the growth of endometrioma cells and its effect on the DNA synthesis.

METHODS:

Cells from four separate endometrioma cell lines were seeded into six-well plates in M199 medium containing increasing levels of interferon alpha-2b: 0 (control), 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 U/mL. All cells were counted on days 0, 3, 6, and 9 in quadruplicate, and the counts were averaged for each condition. A second experiment was run to demonstrate the effect of short-term exposure of interferon alpha-2b on the growth of endometrioma cells in culture. In a separate experiment, cells from two endometriomas were plated in quadruplicate to evaluate the DNA synthesis. On day 3, 1000 and 4000 U/mL of interferon alpha-2b were added and run simultaneously with control (0 U/mL) wells. 3H-thymidine was added to each condition for 24 and 48 hours' incubation. Cells were then harvested and counted in a scintillation counter to study the 3H-thymidine uptake.

RESULTS:

Interferon alpha-2b suppressed endometrioma cell growth in vitro. This effect increased with increasing concentrations of interferon alpha-2b (50-2000 U/mL) compared with the control (0 U/mL). The suppression of cell growth was statistically significant, but when interferon alpha-2b was removed from the culture cell growth increased. 3H-thymidine uptake by endometrioma cells decreased compared with the control after 24 and 48 hours for interferon alpha-2b concentrations of 1000 and 4000 U/mL, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

Interferon alpha-2b inhibits the growth and DNA synthesis of endometrioma cells in culture. This finding may have prospects for the treatment of endometriosis.

• Authors: S Z Badawy, A Etman, V Cuenca, A Montante, L Kaufman
• Journal: Obstetrics and gynecology (Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 98 Issue 3 Pg. 417-20 (Sep 2001) ISSN: 0029-7844 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11530122 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins
• DNA

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Cells, Cultured
• DNA (biosynthesis)
• Endometriosis (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Recombinant Proteins