EZH2 promotes the progression of osteosarcoma through the activation of the AKT/GSK3 beta pathway

Enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is a clarified promoter in a list of tumours, including osteosarcoma (OS). Our research was projected to define the mechanism involved in EZH2-mediated OS progression through the protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3 beta) pathway. EZH2 expression was tested in 66 OS tissues and five osteosarcoma cell lines (143B, SJSA-1, HOS, MG63, and U2OS). In HOS and U2OS cells, cellular malignant characteristics, and the markers of the AKT/GSK3 beta signalling pathway were measured when EZH2 was silenced or overexpressed. Meanwhile, rescue assays were implemented to observe whether the AKT/GSK3 beta signalling pathway inhibitor (MK-2206) could affect the role of overexpressed EZH2 in OS cells. EZH2 was up-regulated in tumour tissues of OS patients. OS cell lines (HOS and U2OS) showed impairments of proliferative, migratory, invasive and anti-apoptotic properties when EZH2 was silenced. Downregulated EZH2 inhibited the activation of the AKT/GSK3 signalling pathway. However, the situation in HOS and U2OS cells over-expressing EZH2 was opposite. MK-2206 erased EZH2 up-regulation-induced promotion of OS cell growth. It is demonstrated that EZH2 promotes the progression of OS via inducing the activation of the AKT/GSK3 beta pathway, offering a therapeutic direction for OS treatment.