A processed metabolite of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone has proliferative effects in endometrial cells.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the possible role of the processed peptide of LHRH, LHRH-(1-5), in regulating growth of endometrial cancer cells. An endometrial cancer cell line, the Ishikawa cell line, was cultured under standard conditions and treated in a dose-dependent manner with 1 of 2 hormones, LHRH and LHRH-(1-5) to determine the ability of these peptides to regulate cellular growth. A tetrazolium-based assay was used to determine the effect these peptides have on cell proliferation. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based assays were used to determine the expression of caspase-3/7 and pERK-1/2. Statistical analyses were conducted using an analysis of variance followed by Fisher LSD as the post-hoc test. The results show that LHRH is anti-proliferative whereas LHRH-(1-5) is proliferative on the cells. Furthermore, LHRH-(1-5) decreased caspase-3/7 and pERK1/2 expression. This is the first time LHRH-(1-5) is shown to have proliferative effects on cells.