Objective        To determine the effect of silencing NIMA-related kinase 2 (Nek2) via RNAi on the invasive capacity of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells.       Methods        Three pairs of siRNA were designed according to the sequence of Nek2 gene and then synthesized chemically. In 48 h after transfection of the siRNAs into the SKOV3 cells

real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression levels of Nek2 mRNA and protein so as to screen the most effective siRNA. The capacity of invasion were evaluated by Transwell chamber test. Western blotting was used to determine the protein levels of MMP-2

MMP-9 and TIMP-1 after Nek2-siRNA transfection.       Results        Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting revealed that Nek2-siRNA notably down-regulated Nek2 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. The cell number of invasion in SKOV3 cells was significantly decreased compared to the control groups（P0.01). Western blotting revealed that Nek2-siRNA transfection up-regulated the expression level of TIMP-1

down-regulated the expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in SKOV3 cells significantly （P0.01).       Conclusion        Nek2-siRNA transfection can effectively inhibits Nek2 expression

restrains the invasion capacities of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells through up-regulating TIMP-1 and down-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9.