Research article

Suppression of local invasion of ameloblastoma by inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in vitro

Anxun Wang^1* , Bin Zhang^2* , Hongzhang Huang³ , Leitao Zhang² , Donglin Zeng³ , Qian Tao³ , Jianguang Wang² and Chaobin Pan²

¹  Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, PR China

²  Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 107 Yan-jiang Road West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, PR China

³  Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua College of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510055, PR China

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Cancer 2008, 8:182doi:10.1186/1471-2407-8-182

Published:	30 June 2008

Abstract

Background

Ameloblastomas are odontogenic neoplasms characterized by local invasiveness. This study was conducted to address the role of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the invasiveness of ameloblastomas.

Methods

Plasmids containing either MMP-2 siRNA or tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) cDNA were created and subsequently transfected into primary ameloblastoma cells. Zymography, RT-PCR, and Western blots were used to assess MMP-2 activity and expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2, as well as protein levels.

Results

Primary cultures of ameloblastoma cells expressed cytokeratin (CK) 14 and 16, and MMP-2, but only weakly expressed CK18 and vimentin. MMP-2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly inhibited by RNA interference (P < 0.05). Both MMP-2 siRNA and TIMP-2 overexpression inhibited MMP-2 activity and the in vitro invasiveness of ameloblastoma.

Conclusion

These results indicate that inhibition of MMP-2 activity suppresses the local invasiveness of ameloblastoma cells. This mechanism may serve as a novel therapeutic target in ameloblastomas pursuant to additional research.