Objective To investigate the effects of cyclic biaxial mechanical stimulation on adhesion of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma（SACC）extracellular matrix（ECM）and expression of E- cadherin/cateninin complex in the SACC high metastasis cell lines ACC-M, SACC low metastasis cells line ACC- 2, we observed the functions of mechanical stimulation in the adhesion of SACC cell - ECM and investigate the mechanism in the adhesion of ACC. Methods Mechanical stimulation were applied to the cells for periods of 1, 3 and 6 hours every day, lasting for 2 days. The amplitude of mechanical stimulation applied to the cells were 1 000, 4 000 μ strain, at a frequency of 3 Hz. Unstrained cells were used as control. The expression of E- cadherin/cateninin complex on the cell of ACC-M, ACC- 2 were studied with laser scanning confocal microscope and image analysis. SACC cell- ECM adhesion was assayed by MTT technique. Results The results showed that expressions of α, β, γ- cateninin on the cell of ACC- 2 were obviously higher than that ACC-M and E- cadherin on the cell of ACC-M were obviously higher than that ACC- 2 without mechanical stimulation. Mechanical stimulation can change the expression of E- cadherin/cateninin complex on the cell of ACC- 2 and ACC-M with time. The results also showed that cell- ECM adhesion on the cell of ACC- 2 were obviously higher than that of ACC-M without mechanical stimulation. Mechanical stimulation can change the cell- ECM adhesion of ACC- 2 and ACC-M with time. Conclusion Mechanical stimulation can change the adhesion of the SACC cell- ECM and expression of E- cadherin/cateninin complex of the SACC cell. We think it played an important role in metastasis of the cancer.
