Figure 2. GRα agonist, dexamethasone, inhibits cell growth, induces apoptosis and enhances chemosensitivity.

(A) Cells were treated with dexamethasone as indicated for 3 days. The absorbance was measured using MTT assay and normalized to their control cells (without dexamethasone), respectively.(*:p<0.05 vs 1×10⁻⁵ M) (B) Nucleus was stained with Hoechst 33342. Dexamethasone increased apoptosis. (C) DNA fragmentation. Dexamethasone increased apoptotic DNA fragmentation. (D) Cells were treated with 1×10⁻⁴ M dexamethasone for 72 hours and apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry after FITC Annexin V/PI staining. (*:p<0.05 vs control) (E, F) LoVo cells were treated with 5-Fluorouracil and cell survival was assayed using MTT. IC50 was calculated due to Fig. 2E. (*:p<0.05 vs 5-Fu alone) (G, H) LoVo cells were treated with oxaliplatin and cell survival was assayed using MTT. IC50 was calculated due to Fig. 2G. (*:p<0.05 vs L-OHP alone).