The suppressive effects of IFN-α on human gastric carcinoma cell line BGC-823 / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To observe the inhibitory effect of interferon-α ( IFN-α) on the growth invasiveness and metastasis of human gastric carcinoma cell line BGC-823, and mechanism of its action. METHODS: We detected the influence of IFN-α on the proliferative ability of BGC-823 in cell culture system, the cell vitality with the MTT colorimetric assay, and the cell cycle with flow cytometer (FCM). The regulatory functions of IFN-α to the expression of E-cadherin and matrix metalloproteinase-2 ( MMP-2) in tumor cells were estimated by immunohistochemical analysis ( S-P). The ultrastructural changes of the junction among the tumor cells were observed under electron microscope. RESULTS: IFN-α can significantly inhibit the growth of human gastric carcinoma cell line BGC-823 in a dose-dependent manner. When the concentration of IFN-α was ≥106 U/L, the cell proliferation can be effectively suppressed,the suppression rate was ≥ 12. 2%, and the blockage appeared at the phase of G1-S of the cell cycle. Under the induction of IFN-α, the expression level of the cell E-cadherin increased while the MMP-2 decreased. The changes on ultrastructure of the cells showed the increased adhesive junctions and the relative compact structure. CONCLUSION: IFN-α can suppress the growth of human gastric carcinoma cell line BGC-823 through its influence on cell cycle. IFN-α can regulate the expression of E-cadherin and MMP-2, make the cell junction closely, so that it has the potential on restricting the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma cells.