S100A7 promotes the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells via the receptor for advanced glycation end products

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant tumor of bone in childhood and adolescence. Despite intensive research for new therapies, the outcome in patients with metastasis remains extremely poor. S100 proteins are involved in the proliferation, cell cycle progression and metastasis of numerous malignant tumors, including osteosarcoma. In the present study, we identified S100A7 as a candidate to promote the migration of osteosarcoma cells. S100A7 promoted the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells as assayed in vitro. An in vitro pull-down assay revealed the binding of the recombinant S100A7 protein with its putative receptor, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). The downregulation of RAGE by a specific siRNA markedly suppressed the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Furthermore, the matrix metalloproteinase activity of osteosarcoma cells was enhanced by S100A7 and suppressed by the downregulation of RAGE. These results indicate that S100A7 promotes the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells through RAGE. The S100A7-RAGE axis may thus be a new target for preventing the invasion and/or metastasis of osteosarcoma.