Potent selective inhibition of MMP-14 by chloroauric acid and its inhibitory effect on cancer cell invasion

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-containing proteases with vital roles in extracellular matrix remodeling. The regulation of MMPs can modulate a number of cellular activities. The therapeutic potential of MMP inhibitors has been shown for diseases such as arthritis and cancer. This paper is the first to demonstrate that HAuCl4 inhibits the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-13 as well as having a more specific inhibitory effect on MMP-14. The effect of HAuCl4 on MMP-14 involves a non-competitive reversible inhibitory mechanism. Moreover, 0–50 μM HAuCl4 did not affect the cell viability of HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cells. However, HAuCl4 at these concentrations showed significant inhibitory effects on the invasion of the HT-1080 cells, thereby suggesting that HAuCl4 may modulate tumor cell behaviors by inhibiting MMP-14. These findings provide initial clues to further elucidate the biological activity of HAuCl4 and its potential therapeutic value for related diseases.