HYALURONIC-ACID FACILITATES GLIOMA CELL INVASION IN-VITRO

We investigated the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the invasivenes s of three human glioma cell lines (A172, T98G and U251) and their sec retion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), plasminogen activators (PA s), and hyaluronidase. The invasion of all thr ee glioma cell lines wa s enhanced by the impregnation of Matrigel with HA in an in vitro inva sion assay using 12 mu m porosity polycarbonate filter. transwells. Th e secretion of MMPs and PAs was not influenced by the presence of HA. Hyaluronidase activity was not detected in the culture media of any gl ioma cell line. HA also enhanced the motility of A172 and U251 glioma cells, but did not influence the motility of T98G glioma cells. The ad hesion and spreading of all glioma cell lines were inhibited on HA-coa ted plates. HA, however, did not influence the proliferation of any of the glioma cell line. These results suggest that the presence of HA c ontributes to glioma cell invasion, which involves the stimulation of detachment and motility of glioma cells and the maintenance of protein ase secretion by glioma cells.