The influence of ursolic Acid on invasive and metastastic ability of fiver cancer cell line BEL-740

Objective To observe the effect of ursolic acid (UA) on invasive and metastastic ability and relative gene matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-2 mRNA and protein expression levels of liver cancer cell fine Bel-7404 in vitro. Methods 3 groups were selected to treat Bel-7404 cells,group A ( UA 50 μmol/L) and group B (cisplatin 10 mg/L) as experimental groups,and group C (DMEM) as control. Cell migration experiment and transwell room were used to analyze the difference on migration and invasion ability of the 3 groups Bel-7404 cells,on the same time,the expression levels of MMP-2,TIMP-2 mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting as well. Results Bel-7404 cells of A,B and C groups were treated for 48 hours,the speed ratio (35.2±8.7), (30.5±8.6) μm/h and numbers of migration cells 21.2±5.3, 20.2±5.7 and the expression levels of MMP-2 gene mRNA 0.24±0.06,0.23±0.05 and protein 0.21± 0.01,0.24±0.04 were significantly lower in Group A and B than those of group C (75.6±8.7) μm/h, 54.8±7.8, 0.46±0.11, 0.42±0.06 (P 0.01). Conclusion UA can inhibit the invasive and metastastic ability of Bel-7404 cells in vitro by down-regulating the MMP-2 mRNA and protein expression and up-regulating those of the TIMP-2. Meanwhile,discrepancy of the invasive and metastastic ability and the expression lev-els of MMP-2 ,TIMP-2 mRNA and protein do not exist in Bel-7404 cells of Group A and B. Key words: Liver cancer cell line Bel-7404; Ursolic Acid; MMP-2; TIMP-2; Neoplastic invasion and metastasis