Matrix metalloproteinase (
MMP) has come to be highlighted by its close relation to the cell invasion of
gliomas. Suppression of
MMP activity in
malignant glioma cells would be meriting to local delivery of genes or chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we employed a novel
MMP inhibitor,
SI-27 to investigate inhibition of cell invasiveness in human
malignant glioma cell lines, U87MG, U251MG, and U373MG. We evaluated with zymogram, reverse zymogram, and cell invasion assay after exposure of
SI-27 for 24 h followed by preliminary MTT assay to find non-cytotoxic dose range, 5, 10, 50, 100 microg/ml compared with non-treatment group as the control. Common to three
glioma cell lines, zymogram disclosed that expressions of MMP-2 and -9 were suppressed in a dose-dependent fashion, meanwhile those of tissue inhibitor of
MMP (TIMMP) in reverse zymogram were not. The numbers of invading cells through Boyden chamber were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner, while those with 5 microg/ml were not diminished common to those three lines. In conclusion, dose concentration ranging 10-100 microg/ml of
SI-27 inhibited MMP-2 and -9 mediated cell invasiveness in
malignant glioma cell lines. This is the first report for chemotherapeutic effect of
SI-27 on
glioma cells.