Abstract: Objective: To determine the effect of hypoxia on the expression of Nodal and the impact of relative migration protein in malignant melanoma A375 cell. Methods: Malignant melanoma A375 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with chloride (CoCl₂) to construct an intracellular hypoxia model. The cells were divided into blank control group CoCl₂ group, SB-431542 group and CoCl₂ +SB-431542 group. The level of Nodal, Activin receptor-like kinase 4/7 (ALK4/7), E-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and vimentin was detected by Western blot. Results: The level of Nodal and ALK7 in A375 cells was higher in CoCl₂ group than in other groups, with significant differences (Ps<0.05). ALK4 was not detected in all groups. The level of Vimentin and MMP2 in A375 cells was higher in CoCl₂ group than in other groups, with significant differences (Ps<0.05). There was no significant difference of E-cadherin protein in different groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Hypoxia can increase the expression of Nodal and relative migration protein of MMP2 and vimentin in the malignant melanoma A375 cells.

Key words: malignant melanoma, Nodal, E-cadherin, MMP2, Vimentin