Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effect of glycoprotein (transmembrane) nonmetastatic melanoma protein b (GPNMB) on proliferation and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. METHODS: The expression levels of GPNMB in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues and oral squamous cell carcinoma cells were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. GPNMB-siRNA was constructed, and then transfected into Tca-8113 cells. MTT assay and transwell chamber were used to determine the effect of GPNMB-siRNA on Tca-8113 cell proliferation and invasion. RESULTS: GPNMB were up-regulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues and oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. In addition, MTT assay indicated that the proliferation of Tca-8113 cells was significantly inhibited by GPNMB-siRNA, and GPNMB-siRNA also markedly inhibited Tca-8113 cell invasion. CONCLUSION: GPNMB may play an important in Tca-8113 cell proliferation and invasion, which laid the foundation for studying the mechanism of GPNMB in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Key words: GPNMB, oral squamous cell carcinoma, proliferation, invasion