Celastrol inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of human cervical HeLa cancer cells through down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9

摘要

The present study evaluated the anticancer potential of celastrol through down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9. HeLa cells were incubated with different concentrations of celastrol (1, 10 and 100?μM) for 48h. Doxorubicin was used as a reference drug. Cancer cell migration, apoptosis, cell viability and mitochondrial fragmentation were evaluated following celastrol treatment. In addition, the expression level of MMP-2, MMP-9 and caspase-3 was evaluated following celastrol treatment. HeLa cell viability was 94.1?±?7, 53.4?±?4 and 36.3?±?2% at 1-100?μM of celastrol, respectively. Apoptotic cell numbers were increased, and inhibition of larger wounds in cancer cells was observed following celastrol treatment. Celastrol-treated cells showed condensed nuclei and clumped mitochondria. Reduced expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and increased expression of caspase-3 were observed following celastrol treatment. Based on the experimental results, we are concluding that the celastrol was effective against HeLa cervical cancer cells.