Ezrin promotes invasion and migration of the MG63 osteosarcoma cell.
BACKGROUND
Evidence shows that ezrin plays an important role in the development of some human malignancies. But the mechanism by which ezrin may affect tumor cell invasion and metastasis remains unclear.


METHODS
In this study, the expression of ezrin was verified in osteosarcoma (OS) cells and tissues by comparison with normal bone cells and tissues using Western blotting. OS-MG63 were transfected with pcDNA3.1-ezrin or pGenesil-1/shRNA-ezrin and the stably transfected cells were selected with G418 to yield the ezrin cell line. The OS-MG63 tumor cells were delivered by tail vein to female BALB/c to develop pulmonary metastasis model in vivo. Ezrin was identified as a direct target of miR-183 via a luciferase reporter carrying the 3'-untranslated region of ezrin. Migration assays and invasion assays were done with the transwells. Signaling pathway was studied by Western blotting and/or inhibitor.


RESULTS
Ectopic overexpression of ezrin in OS cell line MG63 promoted tumor cell invasion and migration. Consistent with this, knockdown of ezrin inhibited tumor cell invasion and migration. Similar results were obtained in the experimental metastasis model in vivo. We identified ezrin as a direct target of miR-183. What is more, ectopic expression of ezrin could induce the expression of N-cadherin and enhance the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling.


CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, these results suggest that ezrin as a direct target of miR-183 promotes the aggressiveness of OS via increased N-cadherin and activating ERK signaling.
Department of Orthopaedics, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 421001, China.
Jian
J
Zhang
Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, Hunan 421001, China.
Jianhong
J
Zuo
People's Hospital of Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie, Hunan 427000, China.
Mingsheng
M
Lei
Department of Orthopaedics, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 421001, China.
Song
S
Wu
Department of Orthopaedics, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 421001, China. Email: jhzuoch@sina.com.
Xiaofang
X
Zang
Department of Orthopaedics, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 421001, China.
Chaoyue
C
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000099149:Ezrin
D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D000099149:Ezrin