The effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine on endometrial cells

Endometrium undergoes a periodic menstrual cycle including proliferation, differentiation, and degeneration during the reproductive life cycle. Endometrium, regulated by the steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone, is a tissue that can regenerate. Estrogen plays an important role in the proliferation of the endometrial epithelium and stromal cells. During the proliferation phase, 17-ß-estradiol is the most active estrogen. Progesterone inhibits the proliferation and helps in the regulation of decidualization.In our study, Ishikawa cells were used as in-vitro endometrium model. The experimental groups consist of four different culture mediums; the control, 17-ß-estradiol, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) along with 17-ß-estradiol, and different concentrations of NAC. Anti-BrdU antibody is used for immunocytochemical analysis of the proliferative effect of estrogen and the effects of NAC on proliferation. A significant increase in the S phase proliferation rate was in the group treated with 17-ß-estradiol compared to the controls. The NAC treatment either decreased and/or inhibited the cell proliferation depending on the concentration. There was a significant inhibition of the proliferation in the experimental groups treated with 20 mM and 50 mM of NAC. When compared to the controls and estrogen treated groups, NAC has been found to increase the expression nuclear factor- ?B (NF- ?B) in nucleus.With these findings, it has been concluded that besides having the previously identified antioxidant effects, NAC inhibits cell proliferation depending on the concentration and the NF- ?B plays a role in the cellular activities of NAC by the regulation of related gene expression.