Osteopontin Enhances the Expression and Activity of MMP-2 via the SDF-1/CXCR4 Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines

Abstract

These results indicate that rhOPN up-regulates MMP-2 through the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis, mediated by binding to integrin α(v)β₃ and CD44v6 and activating the PI-3K/Akt and JNK pathways in HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells. Therefore, the osteopontin-SDF-1α/CXCR4-MMP-2 system may be a new therapeutic target for treating HCC progression.