Bile from a patient with anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union promotes the proliferation of human cholangiocarcinoma cells via COX-2 pathway.

AIM: To explore the effects of COX-2 gene in the proliferative activity induced by bile from anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union (APBDU) on human cholangiocacinoma cell line.
METHODS: Bile sample from APBDU and normal bile sample were used for this study. The proliferative effect of bile was measured by methabenzthiazuron (MTT) assay; COX-2 mRNA was examined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM), and the PGE(2) levels in the supernatant of cultured cholangiocarcinoma cells were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunoabsordent assay (ELISA).
RESULTS: Bile from APBDU can significantly promote the proliferation of human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells compared with normal bile (P=0.005) and up-regulated remarkably their COX-2 mRNA expression (P=0.004). The proliferative activity of APBDU bile can be abolished by addition of cyclooxygenase-2 specific inhibitor celecoxib.
CONCLUSION: Bile from APBDU can promote the proliferation of human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells via COX-2 pathway.