The effect of progesterone on caspase 8, 9 and 3 activity and investigation of morphological changes in MCF-7 cells nuclei

Studies have shown that progesterone is effective in inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of progesterone on the activity of caspases 8, 9, and 3 and to investigate morphological changes in MCF-7 cell nuclei.

In this experimental study, MCF-7 cells were purchased from the Bank of Pasteur Institute of Iran. The activity of caspases 8, 9, 3 and the morphological changes of the cell nucleus in the cells exposed to the cytotoxic concentration of progesterone (2.5 mg/ml) were evaluated. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test.

The activity of caspases 8, 9, and 3 (P˂0.01, P˂ 0.001 and P˂0.001, respectively) in MCF-7 cells exposed to cytotoxic progesterone concentration (2.5 mg/ml) significantly increased compared with the control group. Exposure of MCF-7 cells to the cytotoxic concentration of progesterone (2.5 mg/ml) caused several changes in MCF-7 cell nuclei.

The results of this study showed that progesterone increases caspase 8, 9, and 3 activity in MCF-7 cells.