Effects of pravastatin on the proliferation and invasion of human heptocarcinoma cell line HepG2

Abstract

Objective To observe the effects of pravastatin on the proliferation and invasion of human heptocarcinoma cell line HepG2. Methods The effects of different levels of pravastatin on the proliferation of HepG2 cells were observed by MTT assay; boyden chamber for invasion and motility assays, p38 activity was measured by immuno-precipitation, the expressions of p-p38, MKP-1, RhoC and MMP-2 were analyzed by Western blot. Results Pravastatin depressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells. The intracellular p38 activity and expressions of p-p38, RhoC and MMP-2 were decreased, while MKP-1 expression was elevated by different concentrations of pravastatin. As the pravastatin group in 0.01 g/L for example, the rate of elepressing HepG2 proliferation was(89.51 ± 9.55)%, and the rate in control group was 100.00% ( F = 19.76, P ＜ 0.05 ); p38 activity was( 87.45 ± 8.22) % in 0.01 g/L pravastatin group and in control group was 100.00% ( F = 22.29, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions Pravastatin can depress the proliferation of HepG2 cell line with inhibiting activity and expression of p-p38. Meanwhile, pravastatin can depress the invasion and motility of HepG2 cells with inhibiting RhoC and MMP-2 expressions. Key words: Liver neoplasms; Pravastatin; Proliferation; Invasion