Effects of nerve growth factor on invasive ability of human pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on invasive ability of human pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2.Methods β-NGF was added to cell culture medium.Then the motile ability was tested by crossing-river test and transwell migration assay.The invasire ability was determined by matrigel invasion method and expression of E-cadherin and MMP-2 by Western blotting.Results There was significant difference of crossing-river time between β-NGF group (42.50 4.12 h) and control group (68.45 3.53 h).By matrigel invasion test,the penetrated cells were (32.61 3.85)/field,(39.35 5.24)/field and (47.90 6.82)/field in the 50 ng/ml,100 ng/ml and 150 ng/ml β-NGF groups and (23.90 4.56)/field in the control group,respectively (P＜0.01).The expression of E-cadherin was significantly decreased while that of MMP-2 markedly increased in β-NGF groups.Conclusion β-NGF may decrease the E-cadherin expression,increase MMP-2 expression,reduce intercellular adhesion and induce promotion of migration/invasion ability.Therefore,it might play a potential role in invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Key words: Pancreatic neoplasms; Nerve growth factor; E-cadherin; MMP-2; Migration/invasion