Epoxymicheliolide Suppresses Invasion and Migration of U251 Cells by Downregulating MMP-2/9 via NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of epoxymicheliolide (EMCL) on the invasion and metastasis of glioma U251 cells and related mechanism.

Methods After glioma U251 cells were treated with different concentrations of epoxymicheliolide for 48 hours, CCK-8 was used to detect the proliferation of glioma cells and IC₅₀; scratch test and Transwell invasion test were used to detect the invasion and migration of glioma U251 cells; Western blot was used to detect MMP-2, MMP-9, p-p65 and p65 protein expression.

Results After EMCL treatment, the number of U251 cells was significantly reduced, the cell morphology became round and smaller, the cell-to-cell contact and filamentous pseudopods were significantly reduced; the migration and invasion abilities of U251 cells were decreased significantly with the increased concentration of EMCL; MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression were down-regulated; p-p65/p65 expression was down-regulated.

Conclusion Epoxymicheliolide could inhibit the invasion and migration of U251 cells.