Prostaglandin E2-Induced cell death is mediated by activation of EP2 receptors in motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells

Prostaglandin e2 (pge2) was shown to induce neuronal death in the cns. to characterize the neurotoxicity of pge2 and e-prostanoid receptors (ep) in motor neurons,we investigated pge2-induced cell death and the type(s) of ep responsible for mediating it in nsc-34,a motor neuron-like cell line. immunoblotting studies showed that ep2 and ep3 were dominantly expressed in nsc-34 cells and motor neurons in mice. exposure to pge2 and butaprost,an ep2 agonist,but not sulprostone,an ep1/3 agonist,resulted in decreased viability of these cells. these results suggest that pge2 induces cell death by activation of ep2 in nsc-34 cells. © the japanese pharmacological society.