We investigated the effects of
hyaluronic acid (HA) on the invasiveness of three human
glioma cell lines (A172, T98G and U251) and their secretion of
matrix metalloproteinases (
MMPs),
plasminogen activators (PAs), and
hyaluronidase. The invasion of all three
glioma cell lines was enhanced by the impregnation of
Matrigel with HA in an in vitro invasion assay using 12 microns porosity
polycarbonate filter transwells. The secretion of
MMPs and PAs was not influenced by the presence of HA.
Hyaluronidase activity was not detected in the
culture media of any
glioma cell line. HA also enhanced the motility of A172 and U251
glioma cells, but did not influence the motility of T98G
glioma cells. The adhesion and spreading of all
glioma cell lines were inhibited on HA-coated plates. HA, however, did not influence the proliferation of any of the
glioma cell line. These results suggest that the presence of HA contributes to
glioma cell invasion, which involves the stimulation of detachment and motility of
glioma cells and the maintenance of
proteinase secretion by
glioma cells.