Prostaglandin E₂-Induced Cell Death is Mediated by Activation of EP2 Receptors in Motor Neuron-like NSC-34 Cells

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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.