Regulation of EPHB4 on Malignant Progression of Osteosarcoma Cells

doi:10.3870/j.issn.1672-8009.2026.01.007

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of erythropoietin-producing hepatocyte receptor B4(EPHB4)on the malignant progression of osteosarcoma and its mechanism. Methods The expression level of EPHB4 in U2OS,SaOS2-LM7,SaOS2,and 143B was detected by Western blotting.SaOS2-LM7 cells was divided into 4 groups:control group,si-NC group,si-EPHB4 group,and sEPHB4(soluble EPHB4 blocking antibody)group.Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay and EdU staining,cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,cell invasion and migration were detected by Transwell assay and Wound healing assay.A SaOS2-LM7 cell line labeled with red fluorescent protein(RFP)which was stably silenced of EPHB4 was constructed(EPHB4-si-RNA-RFP).Twenty-four tumor-bearing nude mice were divided into 2 groups:the control-RFP group and the EPHB4-si-RNA-RFP group.The lung metastasis was detected 1-4 weeks later by using small animal in vivo imaging system.Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression of EPHB4,cluster of differentiation 33(CD33),CYCLIN D1,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9),MMP-14,and β-CATENIN in tumor tissues 4 weeks later. Results The expression level of EPHB4 in the SaOS2-LM7,SaOS2,and 143B was significantly higher than that in the U2OS(all P<0.05).Compared with those in the control group,the expression level of EPHB4,the proliferation activity,and the EdU positive rate of SaOS2-LM7 in the sEPHB4 group and the si-EPHB4 group were significantly decreased,the apoptosis rate was significantly increased,and the migration rate and invasion rate were significantly decreased(all P<0.05).In addition,the relative expression levels of β-CATENIN,CYCLIN D1,MMP-9,and MMP-14 in the sEPHB4 group and the si-EPHB4 group were also significantly decreased when compared with those in the control group(all P<0.05).The lung metastasis at 3 weeks and 4 weeks was less in the EPHB4-siRNA-RFP group than in the control-RFP group(both P<0.05).The protein expression of EPHB4,CD33,CYCLIN D1,MMP-9,MMP-14,and β-CATENIN in the tumor tissues of the EPHB4-siRNA-RFP group was down-regulated(all P<0.05). Conclusion Silencing EPHB4 significantly inhibits the activation of the WNT/β-CATENIN signaling pathway in osteosarcoma cells,suppresses cell proliferation,migration,and invasion,and promotes cell apoptosis.

Key words: erythropoietin-producing hepatocyte receptor B4, osteosarcoma, migration, invasion, apoptosis, WNT/β-CATENIN signaling pathway

CLC Number:

R738.1

ZHANG Fei, LU Hongxiang, Maimaitikelimu Tusongjiang, YANG Tonglei, LIU Qiuhong, XU Gang. Regulation of EPHB4 on Malignant Progression of Osteosarcoma Cells[J]. Journal of Medical Molecular Biology, 2026, 23(1): 51-59.

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