REGULATION OF CA-125 PRODUCTION BY AMNION AND WISH CELLS IN CULTURE

Amnion and human amnion-derived WISH cells release CA 125 antigen into culture medium. CA 125 output was higher in WISH cells than in amnion cells. In this study we showed that release of the antigen is regulated, with both amnion and WISH cells responding in a similar manner to the tested agents. Release of CA 125 decreased in the presence of dexamethasone (10(-6) mol/L) or cycloheximide (0.1-mu-g/ml) and increased when colchicine (0.01-mu-g/ml) was added to the culture medium. Stimulatory and inhibitory effects were more apparent after 3 days in culture. The precise mechanisms by which some of these agents (colchicine and dexamethasone) affect CA 125 release remain unknown. We propose that amnion and WISH cells in culture represent a useful model to investigate some regulatory aspects of the production of CA 125 in normal tissues.