EFFECT OF GLUCOCORTICOID HORMONE ON NUCLEAR MATRIX IN CERVICAL-CANCERCELLS IN-VITRO

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the crucial factors in cervical c arcinogenesis. High risk HPV16 prototype has been demonstrated in asso ciation with the nuclear matrix in a cervical carcinoma cell line(1,2) . Nuclear matrix (NM) has been established as playing an important rol e in various nuclear activities as well as carcinogenic processes. Dex amethasone (DEX) (glucocorticoid hormone) inhibited the growth of CC2/ CUHK2 cervical carcinoma cells with concurrent induction of epithelial cell differentiation. 2D- PAGE (IEF and NEPHGE) revealed alterations in NM protein composition. Further demonstration of changes in NM was evidenced by NuMA (a novel NM protein) labelling. The HPV16 E7 oncopro tein was shown to be reduced in total cellular protein as well as in N M protein fractions in response to DEX treatment, and this suppressed expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. Thus, it is suggested that dexamet hasone can down-regulate the growth of cervical cancel cells and its i nduced changes in NM may be a cause of this suppression.