[The in vitro effect of norcantharidin on proliferation and invasion of human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells and its mechanism].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect and mechanism of action of norcantharidin on proliferation and invasion of GBC-SD cells.


METHODS
GBC-SD cells of human gallbladder carcinoma were cultured by cell culture technique. The tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay was used to evaluate cell growth. The Matrigel experiment and the crossing-river test were used to examine the invasiveness of GBC-SD cells. Expression of MMP(2), TIMP(2), PCNA and Ki-67 proteins of GBC-SD cells was determined by streptavidin-biotin complex method.


RESULTS
Norcantharidin inhibited the growth and proliferation of GBC-SD cells in a dose and time dependent manner, with an IC(50) value of 56.18 micro g/ml at 48 h. The Matrigel experiment showed that norcantharidin began to inhibit the in vitro invasion of GBC-SD cells at the concentration of 5 micro g/ml. At 40 micro g/ml, the invasive action of GBC-SD cells was inhibited completely and their crossing-river time was prolonged significantly. After treatment with norcantharidin, the expression of PCNA, Ki-67, MMP(2) was significantly decreased. With the increase in TIMP(2) expression, the MMP(2) to TIMP(2) ratio was decreased significantly (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Norcantharidin inhibits the in vitro proliferation and growth of human gallbladder carcinoma cells at relatively low concentrations by inhibiting PCNA and Ki-67 expression. Its anti-invasive activity may be the results of decrease in MMP(2) to TIMP(2) ratio and reduced cell motility.
Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China. fanyuezu-shtj@hotmail.com
Yue-zu
YZ
Fan
Jin-ye
JY
Fu
Ze-ming
ZM
Zhao
Chun-qiu
CQ
Chen
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; C069741:norcantharidin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2