Objective:To investigate the vasculogenic mimicry formation induced by hypoxia in Ⅱ-Ⅲ human glioma cell and the effect of alphastatin peptide suppressing the hypoxia-induced vasculogenic mimicry formation and the mechanism.Methods:MTT,Transwell and three-dimentional culture were used to detect the proliferation,migration and tubule formation of SHG44.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-α(VEGF-α),erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma-A2 (EphA2) and matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP2) was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis.Results:The OD 490 in hypoxia group was 0.60±0.06 and in control group was 0.46±0.05.The number of cell migration was 178.71±18.81 in hypoxia group and 85.86±17.92 in control group.The tubule formation was 56.80±12.21 in hypoxia group and 4.20±2.62 in control group.The proliferation,migration and tubule formation in hypoxia group were significantly higher than that in control group.The expression of VEGF-α,EphA2 and MMP2 was upregulated in hypoxia.When various concentrations of alphastatin (100,1 000,10 000 nmol/L) were added to hypoxia group,the numbers of cell migration were 142.57±12.12,92.71±17.68,30.00±7.72 and the tubule formation were 47.71±10.58,18.86±8.40,8.43±5.62.The cell migration and tubule formation were significantly suppressed by alphastatin in a dose-dependent manner.In alphastatin group,the phosphorylation of EphA2 protein (P=0.037,F=4.629) and activation of MMP2 protein (P=0.005,F=9.331) were significantly suppressed but there was no change in VEGF-α protein.Conclusion:Ⅱ-Ⅲ human glioma cell is able to form vasculogenic mimicry induced by hypoxia and alphastatin peptide can suppress the hypoxia-induced vasculogenic mimicry.VEGF-α induced EphA2 phospharilation and MMP2 activation maybe the key pathway to form vasculogenic mimicry.
