Effect of neuregulin-1 on invasion and migration ability of human glioma cells

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between the protein level of Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) and glioma progression and the effect of NRG-1 on the invasive and migratory ability of glioma cells. Methods The protein expression level of NRG-1 was detected by Western blot (WB) in nontumorous brain tissues and glioma specimens. Next, the effect of NRG-1 down-regulation on the migratory and invasive ability of glioma cells were examined by wound healing assay and matrigel-precoated transwell chambers, respectively. Last, the excretion of MMP2 was examined by gelatin zymography assay after down-regulating the NRG-1. Results The protein level of NRG-1 in human gliomas was considerably higher than that of nontumorous brain tissues. Compared with the control group, the number of cells acrossing the wound edge decreased in NRG-1 down-regulation group (P<0.01). In the matrigel invasion assay, cell number invading through matrigel dramatically decreased in NRG-1-siRNA transfection group (P<0.01). Gelatin zymography revealed that the excretion of MMP2 of NRG-1 down-regulation group was obviously lower than that of the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions The expression level of NRG-1 in human gliomas was higher than that in nontumorous brain tissues, indicating the involvement of NRG-1 in glioma development. Down-regulation of NRG-1 inhibited glioma cell invasion and migration and the excretion of MMP2 in vitro. Key words: Glioma; Neuregulin-1; Cell migration; Neoplasm invasion; Matrix metalloproteinase 2