The present study
aimed to investigate the effect of HNP-1 on the matrix metalloproteinase
(MMP)-2, -8 and -9 secretions of two oral squamous cell carcinoma
(OSCC) cell lines (UT-SCC-43A and UT-SCC-43B).

In
all experiments, the two OSCC cell lines were incubated with graded
concentrations (0, 1, 5, and 10 μg/ml) of HNP-1 for 24 and 48 h. Cell
viability was measured using a colorimetric proliferation test and cell
death was analyzed with a colorimetric cytotoxicity detection kit.
Enzyme activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was detected by using gelatin
zymography, and molecular weight forms of MMP-8 were determined by
Western-blot and a densitometric quantitation method.

Both cell lines showed a significant increase in LDH toxicity at 24 h (UT-SCC-43A: p = 0.005 & UT-SCC-43B: p = 0.014).
Reduced gelatinolytic activities of proMMP-2 were detected in
UT-SCC-43B cell line after 24 and 48 h of incubation with HNP-1
(1 μg/ml: p < 0.001, 5 μg/ml: p < 0.001, and 10 μg/ml: p = 0.0225).
MMP-8 levels of both cell lines decreased at 200–250 kDa after 24 h of
incubation, while after 48 h only UT-SCC-43B decreased at 45–50 kDa.

Our results indicate that HNP-1 suppresses the secretion of MMP-2, -8, and -9 in OSCC cell lines.