Abstract CD99 is a 32-kDa highly glycosylated transmembrane protein encoded by MIC2 gene which shares no homology with any known family of proteins except Xga and mouse CD99L2 proteins. Located in the pseudoautosomal region of chromosomes X and Y, MIC2 encodes two distinct products by alternative splicing of gene transcripts: a long form (32-kDa), corresponding to the full-length protein (CD99wt) and a short form harbouring a deletion in the intracytoplasmic domain (CD99 sh). CD99 is involved in multiple cellular events including cell adhesion, apoptosis, differentiation of T- cells and thymocytes, transendothelial migration of leukocytes, maintenance of cellular morphology and regulation of intracellular membrane protein trafficking either in physiology and in pathological conditions. In osteosarcoma, CD99 is expressed at low levels and functions as a tumor suppressor. The two alternative spliced isoforms are associated to distinct functional outcomes: CD99sh expression increases, whereas wtCD99 significantly inhibits migration, invasiveness and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells (Manara MC, 2006; Scotlandi K 2007). In this study, we specifically analyzed modulation of cell-cell contacts, reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, and modulation of signalling pathways by comparing osteosarcoma cells characterized by different metastasis capabilities and CD99 expression, to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for metastasis. Our data indicate that expression of CD99wt induces recruitment of beta-catenin to adherens injunctions through N-cadherin up-regulation. In addition, forced expression of CD99wt inhibits the expression of several molecules crucial to remodeling the actin cytoskeleton, such as ACTR2 (also named ARP2), ARPC1A and ROCK II as well as ezrin, an ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family member that has been clearly associated with tumor progression and metastatic spread either in experimental models and clinical samples of osteosarcoma. Functional studies by siRNA and/or specific inhibitors point to ROCKII as a crucial intracellular mediator regulating osteosarcoma metastasis capabilities. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4325. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4325
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