ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of lovastatin,a widely used antilipemic agent,on cell proliferation,migration and apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939 and explore its possible mechanism.Method After QBC939 cells were either incubated with lovastatin alone or without it as a control,the methylthiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT) assay was used to detect cell proliferation at the 24 h,48 h and 72 h mark; flow cytometry (FCM) measured apoptosis at 48 h;scratch assay was used to determine cell migration at 48h; RT-PCR and Western blot detected the expression of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6),protein kinase (PKB/Akt),vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA and Akt protein at 48 h.Results Lovastatin significantly inhibited cell proliferation in a dose and time dependent manner (24 h,48 h and 72 h:F=173.05,159.66,577.87 respectively,all P＜0.01).After lovastatin treatment,apoptosis induction increased (t =15.28,P＜ 0.01 ) as did early apoptosis (t =13.24,P＜0.01),while the average migration velocity was reduced (24 h and 48 h:t=6.21,5.95,respectively,all P＜0.01).The Akt protein expression and mRNA expression of IL-6,Akt,VEGF,and MMP-9 were down-regulated after lovastatin treatment.Conclusions Lovastatin can inhibit cell proliferation,migration and promote apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939.The mechanisms of suppression may be associated with down-regulation of IL-6,Akt,VEGF and MMP-9 expression.