Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin 24 inhibits invasion and migration of human cervical cancer cells in vitro

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we used an adenoviral vector -melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (Ad-mda7) to examine the effect of the ectopic production of MDA-7/IL-24 on cell migration and invasion by human cervical cancer cells.

METHODS: The study took place in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China, between April 2006 and November 2006. The change of metastasis of cervical cancer cells (CaSki) cells were detected by Cell Migration Assay and Cell Invasion Assay after treated with Ad-mda7. The production of proteins associated with cell migration and invasion were detected by western blot.

RESULTS: Cervical cancer cells treated in vitro with Ad-mda7 migrated and invaded less than cells treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or Ad-Luc (vector control). Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 /IL-24 inhibited migration and invasion by down-regulating the production of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and by up-regulating the production of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. relative to PBS and Ad-Luc.

CONCLUSION: These results show that MDA-7/IL-24 inhibits invasion and migration by cervical cancer cells by down- or up- regulating proteins associated with these processes, resulting in reduced metastasis. Thus, Ad-mda7 should be considered a therapeutic agent that can inhibit primary tumor growth and prevent metastasis.