LOX inhibition downregulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 in gastric cancer tissues and cells

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of lysyl oxidase (LOX) on the expression and enzyme activity of the matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9) and to study its preliminary effect mechanisms. Methods: We collected fresh cancer specimens from 49 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantitate the protein expression levels of LOX and MMP-9 in gastric cancer tissues and to analyze their correlation. Also, six-week old nude mice were divided into a control group and a LOX inhibition group. SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the backs of the two groups of these mice to construct a gastric cancer-bearing nude mouse model. In the LOX inhibition group, β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) was used to inhibit LOX. Western blotting was used to quantitate the relative expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in mouse tumor tissues, and gelatin zymography was used to quantitate their enzyme activity levels. In addition, BGC-823 gastric cancer cells were cultured, then 0.1 mM, 0.2 mM, and 0.3 mM BAPN and 2.5 nM, 5 nM, and 10 nM LOX were added to treat BGC-823 cells. ELISA and gelatin zymography were used to quantitate the protein concentrations and changes in enzyme activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the culture supernatant. Western blotting was used to quantitate the relative expression levels of platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) in the BGC-823 gastric cancer cells after LOX inhibition and exogenous LOX addition. Results: In the tissues from the gastric cancer patients, the relative expression levels of LOX and MMP-9 were positively correlated (r = 0.326, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the tumor tissues from mice in the LOX inhibition group had reduced relative expression levels and enzyme activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 (P < 0.05). After LOX were inhibited with different concentrations of BAPN in BGC-823 gastric cancer cells, the protein concentrations and enzyme activity levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the culture supernatants were decreased (P < 0.05). In addition, the relative expression level of PDGFR in gastric cancer was decreased when BAPN concentrations increased, showing a negative dose-dependent manner (r_PDGFR-α = -0.964, r_PDGFR-β = -0.988, P < 0.05). After exogenous LOX treating BGC-823 cells, the concentrations and enzyme activity levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the cell supernatant were increased (P < 0.05). Further, the relative expression of PDGFR in gastric cancer cells was increased with the increase of exogenous LOX, showing a positive dose-dependent manner (r_PDGFR-α=0.952, r_PDGFR-β=0.953, P<0.05). Conclusions: LOX inhibition can inhibit the expression and enzyme activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in gastric cancer tissues and cells, and the probable mechanism is through its effects on the PDGF-PDGFR signaling pathway.