Inhibitory Effects Of Astragalus Polysaccharide On The Migrative And Invasive Ability Of Cervical Carcinoma Hela Cells

Background and ObjectivesCervical carcinoma is a common malignant tumor in women just behind breast carcinoma. Invasion and metastasis are the key factors affecting curative effect and prognosis of patients with cervical carcinoma. Therefore, exploration of the method of inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of cervical carcinoma has important significance for improving the curative efficacy and quality of life of patients with cervical carcinoma. In recent years, the anti-tumor effect of traditional Chinese medicine has attracted more and more attention. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is the primary active component of astragalus. More and more studies had confirmed that APS had anti-tumor activity. However, the anti-tumor mechanism of APS is not yet fully understood. Up to now, there is no report about the inhibitory effects of Astragalus Polysaccharide on the migrative and invasive ability of cervical carcinoma Hela cells. The aims of this study are to investigate the inhibitory effects of APS on migrative and invasive ability of cervical carcinoma Hela cells and its mechanisms, so as to provide scientific basis for the application of APS in the treatment of cervical carcinoma.Methods1. APS was extracted and quantitated.2. Based on the results of preliminary experiments, the experimental group:cervical carcinoma Hela cells treated with 200μg/mL APS for 48h, the control group:cervical carcinoma Hela cells untreated with APS.3. The inhibitory effects of APS on migrative and invasive ability of cervical carcinoma Hela cells were discussed via scarification test, transwell migration test and transwell invasion test.4. The changes of E-cadherin, matrix metallo-proteinase-9 (MMP-9) and MMP-2 in cervical carcinoma Hela cells before and after treated with APS were detected by Western blotting assay.Results1. The quantitative result of prepared APS solution was 53.623mg/mL.2. The results of scarification test demonstrated that the speed of wound healing of cervical carcinoma Hela cells in experimental group was slower than the control group. The wounds in control group were almost healed after 48h and the complete healing was 72h, when the wound could be still observed at 72h in experimental group.3. The results of transwell migration test and transwell invasion test revealed that, compared with cervical carcinoma Hela cells of control group, the number of cells through basement membrane of chamber was strikingly diminished in experimental group (P<0.05).4. The results of Western blotting assay suggested that, compared with control group, the expression of E-cadherin in cervical carcinoma Hela cells of experimental group was significantly increased than that in cervical carcinoma Hela cells of control group (P<0.01). The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were no significant difference between cervical carcinoma Hela cells of experimental group and control group (P>0.05). However, compared with cervical carcinoma Hela cells of control group, the active type of MMP-2 was reduced significantly in cervical carcinoma Hela cells of experimental group (P<0.01), while the active bands of MMP-9 were not found in cervical carcinoma Hela cells of experimental group and control group.Conclusions1. APS has strong inhibition effect on migrative and invasive ability of cervical carcinoma Hela cells.2. The increased expression of E-cadherin and the decreased activity of MMP-2 may be involved in the inhibitory effects of APS on migrative and invasive ability of cervical carcinoma Hela cells.