Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic Of Iran

en Effect of Silymarin on Expression of micro-RNA-21 and Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 and Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1 and 2 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line (HepG2) Anatomical Sciences Anatomical Sciences Original Research Original Research Background: Silymarin is a flavonolignan that has various medicinal properties such as liver protection, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and heart protection activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of silymarin on the expression level of mir-21, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in liver cancer HepG2 cell line.    Methods: An in-vitro experimental study was conducted on the <a name="_Hlk154105356">human HepG2 cells </a>prepared from Pasteur Institute, Tehran, Iran. Four concentrations of 0 (control), 50, 100, and 150 µM of silymarin were considered as the study groups according to the MTT assay. Gene expression study was performed using real-time PCR. The studied genes were mir-21, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. In addition, some apoptosis-related genes including BAX, BCL2 and Caspase3 (CAS3) were investigated. GAPDH was used as an internal control. Relative expression was calculated by REST program using <a name="_Hlk171110732">t-test on the logarithm of expression </a>considering a significance level of 0.05.     Results: The significant up-regulations consisted of TIMP genes for doses 100 µM and 150 µM, and the apoptosis activating genes CAS3 and BAX (P < 0.05). The significant down-regulations consisted of MMP-9 in all concentrations, MMP-2 in concentration 100 µM, and the apoptosis inhibitory gene BCL2 in concentrations 50 µM and 100 µM (P < 0.05). In addition, mir-21 as an oncogenic micro-RNA showed significant down-regulation for all doses (P < 0.05). All the comparisons were with the control group.    Conclusion: The present study showed that silymarin could affect the HepG2 cell line at the gene expression level via increasing apoptosis and changing the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and mir-21. These findings were in line with each other and in favor of suppression of tumoral activity in this cell line.   Gene Expression, Apoptosis, Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma 533 539 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-8572-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Maryam Hormozi maryamhormozi@yahoo.com 200319475328460089399 200319475328460089399 No Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran Meysam Moulaee moulaee94@gmail.com 200319475328460089400 200319475328460089400 No Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran Mahdi Alaee mahdialaee1372@gmail.com 200319475328460089401 200319475328460089401 No Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran Nasim Beigi Boroujeni nasim_boroujeni@yahoo.com 200319475328460089402 200319475328460089402 No Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran Mandana Beigi Boroujeni mandana.beigi@lums.ac.ir 200319475328460089403 200319475328460089403 Yes Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran