Functional analysis of Zyxin in cell migration and invasive potential of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Hiromitsu Kishimoto
Kazuma Noguchi
Masahiro Urade
Emi Segawa
Yoshiro Nakano
Michiyo Yamamura
Kazuki Takaoka
Tomoko Hashimoto-Tamaoki
Yusuke Zushi
Journal: International Journal of Oncology (2013)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Zyxin; OSCC; cell migration; invasive potential; E-cadherin

Abstract:  Zyxin is an evolutionarily conserved protein that has been implicated in the regulation of actin assembly and is mainly located at focal adhesions. However, the biological roles of Zyxin in cancer cells are incompletely understood. We analyzed the functions of Zyxin in cell migration and the invasive potential of OSCC. Zyxin expression was examined using eight OSCC cell lines with two different cell morphologies (6 epithelial type and 2 fibroblastic type). To knockdown Zyxin expression, OSCC cells were transfected with Zyxin siRNA and control siRNA. The cell lines were studied by western blot analysis, immunocytochemical analysis and cell migration and invasion assay. Epithelial type OSCC cells showed a high level of E-cadherin expression and a low level of Zyxin expression. N-cadherin as well as Zyxin were strongly expressed in fibroblastic type OSCC cells. Expression levels of LPP and TRIP6, members of the human Zyxin family, did not differ between epithelial type and fibroblastic type. Knockdown of Zyxin expression by siRNA in fibroblastic type OSCC cells was associated with cell morphological changes from spindle (fibroblastic) to polygonal (epithelial) shape and significantly inhibited cell growth as well as cell migration and invasion. Expression levels of Rac1 and Cdc42 were weaker in Zyxin siRNA-treated fibroblastic type OSCC cells than in control siRNA-treated cells, but the expression of RhoA did not differ significantly. Treatment of fibroblastic type OSCC cells with Rac1 inhibitor decreased the expression of Zyxin mRNA and protein. Zyxin is suggested to promote growth, migration and invasiveness of fibroblastic type OSCC cells by upregulating Rac1 and Cdc42. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper has a 2016 corrigendum, which reads:  Following the publication of this article, an interested reader drew to our attention an anomaly associated with the presentation of Figs. 2 and 3. Essentially, there was a direct duplication of certain of the western blotting data between Fig. 2 (the E-cadherin and Actin data) and Fig. 3C (the Zyxin and Actin data). After having re-examined our original data, we realize that we inadvertently duplicated the data from Fig. 2 in Fig. 3C (the Zyxin and Actin data). A corrected version of Fig. 3C (containing the true Zyxin and Actin data), and, by natural process, also of Fig. 6, are presented below, in which the Zyxin data in Figs. 3C and 6 are now correctly shown. Since the Zyxin data was a control for the siZyxin knockout of HOC313, this error did not affect the results of the Rho family analysis in this study. We sincerely apologize for this mistake, and thank the reader of our article who drew this matter to our attention. Furthermore, we regret any inconvenience this mistake has caused. Here are the original Figures 2 and 3C, with the duplications marked in red and blue. ![file] ,