Nutr Res Pract.  2011 Oct;5(5):375-380.

Inorganic sulfur reduces the motility and invasion of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells

• Kim JJ
• Ha AW
• Kim HS
• Kim WK

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of inorganic sulfur on metastasis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in the absence or presence of various concentrations (12.5, 25, or 50 micromol/L) of inorganic sulfur. Cell motility, invasion, and the activity and mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) were examined. Numbers of viable MDA-MB-231 cells did not differ by inorganic sulfur treatment from 0 to 50 micromol/L within 48 h. Inorganic sulfur significantly decreased cell motility and invasion in the MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), as determined using a Boyden chamber assay and a Matrigel chamber. The activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly reduced by inorganic sulfur in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The inorganic sulfur also significantly inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in the cells (P < 0.05). These data suggest that inorganic sulfur can suppress cancer cell motility and invasion by inhibiting MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity and gene expression in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Keyword

Inorganic sulfur; invasion; motility; matrix metalloprotease; MDA-MB-231 cells

MeSH Terms

Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Cell Movement
Collagen
Drug Combinations
Gene Expression
Humans
Laminin
Metalloproteases
Neoplasm Metastasis
Proteoglycans
RNA, Messenger
Sulfur
Collagen
Drug Combinations
Laminin
Metalloproteases
Proteoglycans
RNA, Messenger
Sulfur