Effects of pravastatin on the proliferation and invasion of human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cell line

Objective To observe the effects of pravastatin on the proliferation and invasion of human heptocarcinoma HepG2 cell line.Methods The effects of pravastatin on the proliferation,migration and invision of HepG2 cells was observed by MTT assay,Boyden chamber assay and motility assay.p38 activity was measured,and the expression of p-p38,MKP-1,RhoC and MMP-2 was analyzed by Western blot.Results Pravastatin inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells.The intracellular p38 activity and expressions of p-p38,RhoC and MMP-2 were decreased,while MKP-1 expression was elevated in pravastatin treated cells.In addition,pravastatin inhibited the invasion and motility.Conclusion Pravastatin Can inhibit the proliferation and invision of HepG2 cells. Key words: Carcinoma, hepatocellular;  Neoplasm invasiveness;  Proliferation;  Pravastatin