Abstract:Objective To explore the effects of celecoxib (CX) on the invasion of ameloblastoma (AB) cells and its mechanism of action. Methods The cell survival rate of primary-cultured AB cells in vitro was detected by MTT.According to the results of MTT，the AB cells were divided into three groups:CX high,medium and low dose groups(administered with CX 140,70 and 35 μmol/L,respectively),blank control group （without processing）and positive control group (administered with adriamycin 75 μmol/L).Cell migration and cell invasion were respectively measured by scratch test and modified Matrigel Boyden chamber assay.Western bloting was used to detect the protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2). Results With the increase of CX dose,AB cell survival rate gradually decreased and were significantly lower in three CX groups than that in blank control group(P<0.05).Compared with those in blank control group,the cell migrations invasion,and the protein expressions of MMP-2 and COX-2 in CX groups and positive control group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).The above indexes in CX high dose group,middle dose group and positive control group were significantly lower than those in CX low dose group(P<0.05),while those in high dose group and positive control group were significantly lower than those in medium dose group (P<0.05).There were no significant differences in these indicators between CX high dose group and positive control group(P>0.05). Conclusion CX can effectively inhibit the invasion of ameloblastoma cells,which may be related to the protein expressions of MMP-2 and COX-2 inhibited by CX.