Abstract: Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of matrine on the invasiveness of human malignant melanoma cell line A375,and the mechanism of this effect.Methods MTT assay and Annexin-V-FIFT/PI double staining were performed to examine the effects of matrine on the proliferation and apoptosis of A375 cells.Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of heparanase in the treated cells.The adhesion and invasiveness of A375 cells were tested by cell-matrigel adhesion assay and matrigel invasion assay,respectively.Results Matrine (≥0.5 mg/mL) significantly inhibited the proliferation of A375 cells,and induced apoptosis of these cells;both effects were in a dose-dependent manner.The heparanase-mRNA expression in A375 cells were significantly decreased by 0.125～0.5 mg/mL matrine,as were the adhesion and invasiveness of these cells (all P<0.01);all the effects were in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01).Conclusions Matrine inhibited the adhesion and invasiveness of A375 cells in vitro.These effects could be due to the inhibition of cellular proliferation,induction of cellular apoptosis and down-regulation of heparanase-mRNA expression.

Key words: Melanoma, Heparinlyase, Matrine, Neoplasm invasiveness, Apoptosis