Investigation of Physiological Effects Induced by Dehydroepiandrosterone in Human Endothelial Cells and Ovarian Cancer Cell Line

Journal Title: Turkish Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences - Year 2021, Vol 18, Issue 2

Abstract

Objectives: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an endogenous hormone that acts as a ligand for several cellular receptors. An age-dependent decline in circulating levels of DHEA is linked to changes in various physiological functions. In gynecological clinical practice, DHEA is commonly prescribed to induce ovulation. Some clinical studies report a positive association between high serum concentrations of DHEA and an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. However, the in vitro physiological effects of DHEA on ovarian cancerous cells have not been explored thus far. In this study, we aimed to investigate the physiological effects of DHEA treatment (0-200 μM, 24-72 hours) on MDAH-2774 human ovarian cancer cell line and primary HuVeC human endothelial cells. Materials and Methods: The physiological effects of DHEA treatment (0-200 μM, 24-72 hours) on MDAH-2774 human ovarian cancer cell line and primary HuVeC human endothelial cells were investigated with the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, and scratch assay. Results: DHEA treatment promoted proliferation of the MDAH-2774 cancer cell line in a dose-dependent manner (r=0.6906, p<0.0001, for 24 hours) (r=0.6802, p<0.0001, for 48 hours) (r=0.7969, p<0.0001, for 72 hours). In contrast, DHEA inhibited proliferation of the primary HuVeC cells (r=0.9490, p<0.0001, for 24 hours) (r=0.9533, p<0.0001, for 48 hours) (r=0.9584, p<0.0001, for 72 hours). In agreement with these observations, DHEA treatment resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the number of necrotic cells in the primary HuVeC cells (r=0.97, p<0.0001). However, the number of necrotic or apoptotic cells did not change significantly when the MDAH-2774 cells was exposed to DHEA. Moreover, we found that DHEA treatment reduced the migration rate of HuVeC cells in a dose-dependent manner (r=0.9868, p<0.0001), whereas only a slight increase was observed in the MDAH-2774 ovarian cancer cell line (r=0.8938, p<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that DHEA promotes the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, DHEA induced necrosis and inhibited proliferation in endothelial cells. Although mechanistic evidence is required, our preliminary findings imply that exposure to high doses of DHEA may be associated with an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Authors and Affiliations

Gül İpek GÜNDOĞAN, Cenk KIG, Meriç KARACAN, Hüsniye DOĞRUMAN

Keywords

Related Articles

In Vitro Enzyme Inhibitory Properties, Antioxidant Activities, and Phytochemical Profiles of Moltkia aurea and Moltkia coerulea

Objectives: In Turkey, the genus Moltkia Lehm. is represented by two species, namely Moltkia aurea Boiss. and M. coerulea (Willd.) Lehm., which are used as both food and for medicinal purposes. This study aimed to evalua...

The Effect of Rusa unicolor Antler Deer Extracts from East Kalimantan in Bone Turnover Cell Models

Objectives: Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by skeletal degradation of osseous tissue resulting in an escalated chance of broken bones. Traditionally, Rusa unicolor horn from East Kalimantan is used to treat ma...

In Vitro Physiological Effects of Betahistine on Cell Lines of Various Origins

Objectives: Betahistine is a histamine analog commonly prescribed for symptomatic treatment of vertiginous symptoms. In vitro studies have shown that betahistine was not toxic at the prescribed doses in a nasal epithelia...

Comparative Morphological and Anatomical Studies on Morus Species (Moraceae) in Turkey

Objectives: Morus alba L., Morus nigra L., and Morus rubra L. are widely cultivated in many countries due to their nutritive, economic, and medicinal value. In this study, comparative morphological and anatomical studies...

Screening of Sacrificial Excipients for Arresting Devitrification of Itraconazole from Solid Dispersion

Objectives: The aim of the present investigation was to develop a solid dispersion of itraconazole (ITR) using sacrificial excipients like pregelatinized starch and spray-dried lactose alongside hydroxypropyl methylcellu...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP694447
  • DOI 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2020.58827
  • Views 67
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Gül İpek GÜNDOĞAN, Cenk KIG, Meriç KARACAN, Hüsniye DOĞRUMAN (2021). Investigation of Physiological Effects Induced by Dehydroepiandrosterone in Human Endothelial Cells and Ovarian Cancer Cell Line. Turkish Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18(2), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-694447