Abstract: Background and purpose: Celastrol is the primary active component of Tripterygium wilfordii. The present studies indicate that celastrol displays extensive antitumor activity and promotes apoptosis in pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to investigate the effect of celastrol on cell proliferation, invasion and migration of human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1. Methods: PANC-1 cells were divided into PANC-1 group, celastrol (5 μmol/L) group, celastrol (10 μmol/L) group and celastrol (20 μmol/L) group, and the cells were treated with different levels of celastrol (5, 10 and 20 μmol/L). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to evaluate cell proliferation. The invasion ability was determined using Transwell assay, and cell migration ability was determined by wound healing assay. The expressions of proteins, including Ki-67, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were measured by Western blot. Results: Compared with PANC-1 group, the cell proliferation was decreased in celastrol (5 μmol/L) group, celastrol (10 μmol/L) group and celastrol (20 μmol/L) group, and the protein level of Ki-67 was decreased significantly in celastrol-treated groups compared with PANC-1 group. Meanwhile, cell invasion was decreased in celastrol (5 μmol/L) group, celastrol (10 μmol/L) group and celastrol (20 μmol/L) group compared with PANC-1 group. In addition, compared with PANC-1 group, the wound closure rates in celastrol (5 μmol/L) group, celastrol (10 μmol/L) group and celastrol (20 μmol/L) group were decreased notably, and the protein levels of VEGF and MMP-9 were decreased compared with PANC-1 group. Conclusion: Celastrol can inhibit cell proliferation, invasion and migration of human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1.

Key words: Pancreatic cancer, Proliferation, Invasion, Migration