Melittin Inhibits Invasion Of MCF-7Breast Cancer Cells

Cancer metastasis is the main reason of higher mortality in breast cancer. Cell invasion and metastasis involved in the progression of malignant tumors needs the interaction between tumor cells and the microenvironments including extracellular matrix degradation and angiogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinases which belong to proteolytic enzymes family that perform multiple biological actions including degrade extracellular matrix. MMP-9is the potential target of inhibiting cells invasion due to the regulation of cancer progress.CD147is the receptor of CypA which can promote the expression of MMPs. CD147interaction with CypA can join in tumor cells invasion by regulating the downstream signaling and inducing chemotactic response to immunocytes. Co-expression of CD147and CypA has been found in many malignant tumors. It may be a new target for finding medicine which performs anti-cancer effect by inhibiting the expression of CypA and CD147.In present study, we determined the effects of melittin on MCF-7invasion and metastasis respect to MMP-9, CD147and CypA.Firstly, we employed Transwell assay to detect the inhibition of MCF-7cells invasion by melittin. Areas of staining cells under the polycarbonate membrane become lesser with the higher concentrations of melittin. It shows that melittin can inhibit the invasion of MCF-7cells with concentration dependence.Secondly, we detected the regulation of CD147and MMP-9by melittin using Flow cytometry, RT-PCR and ELISA. The expressions were down-regulated by melittin in MCF-7cells.Finally, we determined the expression of CypA induced by melittin using ELISA. It can be found that melittin can suppress the expression of CypA in Raw264.7. This effect is concentration dependent.Our results show that melittin can inhibit the expression of CypA directly in Raw264.7cells. Melittin can suppress MCF-7cells invasion in a dose dependent manner and down-regulate the expression of CD147and MMP-9. These results will provide experimental basis for exploring anticancer targets and studying anticancer mechanism of melittin.