In this study we investigated the potential effects of Angelica sinensis on the growth and metastasis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. In vitro the Cck-8 assays showed that Angelica sinensis had weak antiproliferative effect on A549 cells only at high concentration. The cell adhesion assay showed that Angelica sinensis decreased the adhesive ability of A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Transwell invasion and migration assay showed that Angelica sinensis reduced the invasive and migratory abilities of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo the animal experiments showed that Angelica sinensis suppressed lung metastasis of nude mice at high concentration. Then, we attempted to clarify the mechanisms of anti-metastatic activities of Angelica sinensis. The results showed Angelica sinensis inhibited the enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), it involved the down-regulation of the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 at both the protein and mRNA levels, which may be associated with Angelica sinensis suppressing the expression of TGF-β1. It also involved the increase of the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases TIMP-2, but TIMP-1 decreased upon incubation of A549 cells with Angelica sinensis. The results suggest that Angelica sinensis might exert anti-growth and anti-metastasis activity against lung cancer cells through the decrease of MMP-2, MMP-9, TGF-β1 and TIMP-1 and increase of TIMP-2.

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