Abstract:

Objective To investigate the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP2） and tissue inhibitor of MMP2 （TIMP2） in human malignant melanoma transplanted subcutaneously in nude mice. Methods A non-sense oligonucleotide （N-ODN） and an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide（ASODN）against heparanase mRNA were designed and synthesized. Cultured human A375 malignant melanoma cells were classified into 4 groups to be transfected with the N-ODN, ASODN of 10, 20, 30 μmol/L, respectively, via liposomes. The cells receiving no treatment served as the blank control group. Then, the transfected or untransfected cells were subcutaneously inoculated into nude mice. Six weeks after the transplantation, transplanted tumors were removed from the nude mice and subjected to immunohistochemical staining for the detection of MMP2 and TIMP2 protein expressions. Results The protein expressions of MMP2 and TIMP2 were significantly lower in tumor tissue specimens from nude mice inoculated with ASODN-transfected A375 cells than in those with N-ODN-transfected cells and in those with untransfected cells （P < 0.05）, significantly different between the tumor tissue specimens from mice inoculated with A375 cells transfected with 10, 20 and 30 μmol/L of ASODN （all P < 0.05）. Conclusion The ASODN against heparinase displays a marked inhibitory effect on the expressions of MMP2 and TIMP2 proteins in malignant melanoma transplanted in nude mice.

Key words: Transplantation