DOWN-REGULATED YAP INHIBITS PROLIFERATION AND MIGRATION OF ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA CELLS

Abstract

Objectives The network including Hippo signaling controls growth, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of the cell and tissue which also plays crucial role in organ size control in mammals and drosophila. In this network, tumor suppressor kinases include MST and LATS while YAP and TAZ exist as oncoproteins. Above all YAP is associated with the development of early embryo and the regeneration of the skin wound as well as abnormal growth of cancers in case of over-expression. However, there have been no reports on the effect of down-regulation of YAP in oral cancer cells. And further, research is needed to evaluate the role of YAP in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) cells. In the current study, we investigated the effects of YAP down-regulation on in vitro proliferation and migration of OSCC cells. Methods We screened 13 OSCC cell lines expression of YAP mRNA and protein were confirmed by PCR and western blot analysis. Among them 2 OSCC cell lines (HSC2, KOSCC11), YAP was expressed high levels comparing with other OSCC cell lines. HSC2 and KOSCC11 cell lines were transfected with sh.RNA compared to sh.RNA Control-transfected cells. Also we performed single cell cloning for cell line's clonal isolation. We checked that down-regulation of YAP. And in vitro cell proliferation and migration assays were used to investigate the effect of YAP down-regulation on cell proliferation and migration. Findings The YAP down-regulated OSCC cells grew significantly slower than the sh.RNA Control transfected cells (p Conclusions These results suggest that down-regulation of YAP induces anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects in OSCC, and YAP may be a useful target molecule for the treatment of OSCC.