Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The histocyte and inflammatory cells played an important role in the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer cells. However, cell interaction influenced matrix metalloproteinase.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of interaction between fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL) and lung cancer cells on matrix metalloproteinase-1, 2, and 9 (MMP-1, 2, 9) expression in three-dimensional co-culture.
METHODS: Human lung cancer cells (GLC-82) and HFL were co-cultivated in three-dimensional collagen gels, which were mixed with collagen, 4 time volume DMEM and sterilizing water, as well as 1 time volume DMEM. The final concentration of collagen was 0.75 g/mL. GLC-82 and HFL were cultured individually, and GLC-82 and HFL were then co-cultured according to the ratio of 5:1. After 48 hours, the supernatant was harvested following adding 1 time volume DMEM. MMP-1 expression was detected by Western blot and MMP-2 and 9 expressions were detected by gelatin zymography.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In three-dimensional co-culture of GLC-82 with HFL, the expressions of MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were much higher than that in GLC-82 or in HFL alone (P < 0.05). This suggested that the interaction between HFL and lung cancer cells enhanced the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer through up-regulating the secretion and activation of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9.