Inhibition of basigin expression in glioblastoma cell line via antisense RNA reduces tumor cell invasion and angiogenesis

Basigin/CD147, also named extracelluar matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), has been implicated in playing very important roles in several aspects of tumor progression. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of antisense RNA of CD147 on invasion and angiogenesis of human glioblastoma U251 cells in vitro. The U251 cell line was transfected by a plasmid containing antisense CD147 cDNA. Gelatin zymography was used to determine the effect on reducing secretions of MMP-2 and MMP- 9 of the transfected cells. Boyden chamber was employed to test the invasion of U251 cells in vitro. We found that downregulation of CD147 resulted in reducing secretions of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF. Moreover, the invasion of stable antisense transfectants was inhibited. Wound-induced migration assay also showed decreased migration in stable antisense transfectants compare to parental- and empty vector-transfected cells. Taken together, these results provide evidence that invasion of human glioblastoma cells can be inhibited by antisense RNA of CD147. Basigin/ CD147 may be used as a potential target of drugs for anti-invasion and metastasis of human glioblastoma cells.