Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells
Published on: April 7, 2017
MiR-19a Promotes Migration And Invasion By Targeting RHOB In Osteosarcoma
Ruidong Liu1, Liefeng Shen2, Niyan Qu3
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jinan City People's Hospital, Jinan 271100, People's Republic of China.
Introduction:
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor with high metastasis and recurrence rate. MicroRNA-19a (miR-19a) has been reported to act as tumor oncogene in multiple cancers. The objective of the study was to explore the molecular mechanisms of miR-19a in osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion.
Materials And Methods:
Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were employed to measure the levels of miR-19a and RhoB in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. Transwell assay was employed to analyze the tissues and cell lines' migratory and invasive abilities. Dual luciferase reporter assay was utilized to analyze the association between miR-19a and RhoB.
Results:
MiR-19a was overexpressed in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. MiR-19a promoted osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion in vitro. RhoB was thus confirmed as a direct and functional target of miR-19a, and it could partially reverse the function of miR-19a. Knockdown miR-19a inhibited osteosarcoma cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and suppressed osteosarcoma xenograft growth.
Conclusion:
MiR-19a enhanced cell migration, invasion and EMT through RhoB in osteosarcoma. The newly identified miR-19a/RhoB axis provides novel insight into the progression of osteosarcoma and offers a promising target for osteosarcoma therapy.
Related Concept Videos
Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Abnormal Proliferation
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Cell Migration

