This study aimed to analyze expression of Müllerian inhibiting substance type II receptor (MISRII) protein and mRNA in cervical neoplasia, to demonstrate the growth inhibition of cervical cancer cells by administration of highly purified recombinant human Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS) and, furthermore, to evaluate the clinical significance of MIS as a biological modifier for MIS receptor expressing tumors. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for MISRII mRNA expression, and in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to observe expression, location of MISRII mRNA and protein, respectively. To demonstrate the effect of MIS on the viability of cervical cancer cells, methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the cell cycle distribution after exposure to MIS in cervical cancer cells, and the annexin-V-FITC staining method was performed to demonstrate apoptosis by MIS in cervical cancer cells. Expression of MISRII protein and mRNA were observed in all normal cervical and cervical carcinoma tissues. There was no significant difference in expression of MISRII protein and MISRII mRNA between normal cervical and cervical carcinoma tissues. MTT assay showed negative correlation between MIS exposure time and the viability of cervical cells (P=0.008). The changes in cell cycle distribution after MIS exposure suggest that MIS plays an important role in inducing cellular apoptosis by causing arrest at the G1 phase and increasing cells at sub-G0G1 phase. Annexin-V-FITC staining methods showed that cellular apoptosis was, respectively, 10.44 and 12.89% after 24 and 48 h of MIS exposure in cervical carcinoma cells. There was a negative correlation between cellular survival and MIS exposure time. This study demonstrates that MISRII is present on normal cervical and cervical carcinoma tissues, and MIS shows receptor-mediated antiproliferative effect on cervical cells in vitro. These data suggest that MIS may be used as a biological modifier or therapeutic modulator on MISRII-expressing tumors in the future.

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