Critical roles of Wnt5a–Ror2 signaling in aggressiveness of tongue squamous cell carcinoma and production of matrix metalloproteinase-2 via ΔNp63β-mediated epithelial–mesenchymal transition

Objectives We previously showed that ΔNp63β, a splicing variant of ΔNp63, mediated EMT and affected cell motility. DNA microarray was thus performed to elucidate the mechanism that ΔNp63β affects cell motility. As the results, Wnt5a was significantly down-regulated by ΔNp63β overexpression in tongue SCC cell line (SQUU-B) with EMT phenotype. Materials and methods Seven OSCC cell lines were used. Expression of ΔNp63, Wnt5a, its receptor Ror2, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were analyzed by RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and western blotting, and gelatin zymography. Furthermore, we examined the effects of siRNA for Wnt5a or Ror2 and recombinant human Wnt5a (rhWnt5a) on motility of tongue SCC cells. Biopsy specimens from tongue SCC patients were used for immunohistochemical staining of Wnt5a and Ror2. Results Wnt5a and Ror2 were expressed only in SQUU-B cells without ΔNp63 expression, and negatively associated with ΔNp63 expression in other cells. ΔNp63β overexpression in SQUU-B cells decreased Wnt5a and Ror2 expression. By Wnt5a or Ror2 knockdown, cell motility was remarkably inhibited, but EMT markers expression was unaffected. MMP-2 expression and the activities inversely correlated with ΔNp63 expression, and were inhibited by Wnt5a or Ror2 knockdown. Cell motility and MMP-2 activities were recovered by adding rhWnt5a in the cells with Wnt5a knockdown, but not in those with Ror2 knockdown. Moreover, immunohistochemical analyses in tongue SCC specimens found that high expression of Wnt5a or Ror2 was associated with poorer prognosis. Conclusion Wnt5a–Ror2 signaling enhanced tongue SCC cell aggressiveness and promoted production of MMP-2 following ΔNp63β-mediated EMT.