Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase 2B1 (SULT2B1) on the migration and invasion ability of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma Hepa1-6 cells in vitro. Methods Hepa1-6 cells were divided into SULT2B1 interference group and conrol group, which infected with lentivirus-mediated SULT2B1 vector and GFP-LV vector respectively. The invasion and migration ability of treated Hepa1-6 cells were examined by Transwell assay. The mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) were determined by Real-time PCR analysis. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in tumor conditioned medium (TCM) of Hepa1-6 cells were detected by gelatin zymography. Results The number of Hepa1-6 cells with SULT2B1 interference invaded or migrated through the membrane without and with matrigel decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P< 0.05). MMP-2 mRNA level was down regulated in Hepa1-6 cells with SULT2B1 interference, while TIMP-2 was up-regulated in the opposite way (P< 0.05). The MMP-2 activity in TCM of Hepa1-6 cells with SULT2B1 interference was decreased obviously (P<0.05). Conclusion Knock-down of SULT2B1 can inhibit the migration and invasion ability of Hepa1-6 cells, which role is mainly associated with down-regulating MMP-2 and up-regulating TIMP-2 levels.

Key words: hepatocellular carcinoma, hydroxysteroid Sulfotransferases 2B1, migration and invasion, matrix metalloproteinase-2