Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of the furin inhibitor α1-PDX on the growth, invasion, and tumorigenicity of
cervical cancer cells and explore the mechanisms. Methods The changes in the growth, migration and invasion of α
1-PDX-transfected HeLa cells were observed using MTT assay, Boyden migration and invasion assay. The protein levels of
furin and MT1-MMP were measured using Western blotting and furin activity was detected by enzyme activity assay in the
transfected cells. HeLa cells were seeded subcutaneously in nude mice and the tumor volume changes were recorded. Results
Compared with the control cells, α1-PDX-treated cells showed a significant growth inhibition by 18.4% at 24 h (P<0.01) with
obviously lowered migration ability and cell invasiveness (P<0.01). Treatment with α1-PDX significantly reduced furin enzyme
activity and MTI-MMP protein levels in HeLa cells. In nude mice, α1-PDX-treated HeLa cells exhibited a delayed and lowered
tumorigenicity with reduced size of the tumors. Conclusion α1-PDX can inhibit the growth, metastasis and tumorigenicity of
HeLa cells, the mechanism of which may involve a decreased furin activity and MTI-MMP expression.