Involvement of α5 integrin in survivin-mediated osteosarcoma metastasis.

Objective: To investigate the role of survivin in osteosarcoma metastasis.

Methods: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knockdown the expression of survivin and α5 integrin in the human osteosarcoma cell line MG63. Western blotting and immunostaining methods were used to assessed the effect of survivin knockdown on the expression of α5 integrin through flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy detection. Meanwhile, the invasion and migration of transfected cells in Transwell and wound healing assays were probed, and the growth situation of these cells transplanted into nude mice was monitored.

Results: Knockdown of survivin expression could inhibit the invasion and migration of osteosarcoma MG64 cells in vitro and the expression of α5 integrin on osteosarcoma MG64 cell surface, suggesting that survivin can inhibit the invasion and migration of osteosarcoma cells through downregulation of α5 integrin. Anti-α5 integrin antibody could also markedly decrease the capability of invasion and migration of osteosarcoma MG64 cells. Additionally, knockdown of survivin expression could slow the growth of osteosarcoma MG63 cells transplanted into nude mice.

Conclusions: Survivin-directed anti-tumor strategies might be an effective method in the treatment of osteosarcoma.