Purpose: To investigate the effects of the methanol extract of Polyopes lancifolius (MEPL) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and invasion in T24 human bladder carcinoma cells.

Methods: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analyses were performed to assess the expression of MMP-9 and its regulatory proteins. MMP-9 activity was evaluated using zymography while matrigel infiltration was performed to assess T24 bladder carcinoma invasion. Electrophoretic mobility assay was used to investigate the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity.

Results: The expression and activity of MMP-9 were significantly increased in response to TNF-α, but MEPL suppressed TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression and activity. MEPL also inhibited TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression at the transcriptional level by blocking the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, the extract suppressed TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of IκBα and consequently sustained cytosolic p65 and p50 expression. Matrigel invasion assay showed that MEPL significantly reduced TNF-α-induced invasion of T24 bladder carcinoma cells.

Conclusion: Collectively, these data indicate that MEPL regulates TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression by suppressing NF-κB activity.