Figure 2.

Inhibition of TAZ represses tumorigenesis. (a) Downregulation of TAZ expression inhibited cell proliferation in U2OS cells or MG-63 cells, compared with control cells. Absorbance was determined by the MTT assay (n=4, mean±S.D.). (b) Knockdown of TAZ promoted the apoptosis rates of U2OS cells and MG-63 cells, compared with control cells. Apoptosis rate was determined by Annexin V–PE staining and fluorescence-assisted cell sorting (FACS). (c and d) Reduced cell migration (c) and invasion (d) in U2OS cells and MG-63 cells because of TAZ knockdown. (e) TAZ knockdown suppressed cellular transformation. U2OS and MG-63 cells transfected with shControl or shTAZ were cultured in soft agar for 20 days and stained with crystal violet. Photographs were acquired and images were quantified with ImageJ (NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA) (details are shown in the inserts). (f) The same tendency was observed in cell colony formation (n=4, mean±S.D., *P<0.01). (g) Mice (n=3 per group) were injected with control or TAZ knockdown cells. Left and right: photographs of representative mice inoculated with MG-63 cells transfected with shRNA control or shTAZ in the left and right dorsal area, respectively