Ouabain impairs cell migration, and invasion and alters gene expression of human osteosarcoma U‐2 OS cells

Ouabain, the specific Na+/K+‐ATPase blocker, has biological activity including anti‐proliferative and anti‐metastasis effects in cancer cell. There is no study to show ouabain inhibiting cell migration and invasion in human osteosarcoma U‐2 OS cells. Thus, we investigated the effect of ouabain on the cell migration and invasion of human osteosarcoma U‐2 OS cells. Results indicated that ouabain significantly decreased the percentage of viable cells at 2.5‐5.0 μM, thus, we selected 0.25‐1.0 μM for inhibiting studies. Ouabain inhibited cell migration, invasion and the enzymatic activities of MMP‐2, and also affected the expression of metastasis‐associated protein in U‐2 OS cells. The cDNA microarray assay indicated that CDH1, TGFBR3, SHC3 and MAP2K6 metastasis‐related genes were increased, but CCND1, JUN, CDKN1A, TGFB1, 2 and 3, SMAD4, MMP13, MMP2 and FN1 genes were decreased. These findings provide more information regarding ouabain inhibited cell migration and invasion and associated gene expressions in U‐2 OS cells after exposed to ouabain.