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.