TBL1XR1 promotes migration and invasion in osteosarcoma cells and is negatively regulated by miR-186-5p.

TBL1XR1 has been reported to play promoting roles in various malignances, yet little is known about its role in osteosarcoma, and the up-stream molecules regulating TBL1XR1 are also unclear. In the present study, we investigated the clinical significance of TBL1XR1 and its biological role in osteosarcoma, and further explored up-stream miRNAs regulating its expression. The results showed that TBL1XR1 was significantly up-regulated in osteosarcoma cells and tissues by using western blot and immunohistochemical staining. Overexpression of TBL1XR1 was positively related to adverse clinicopathological features and poor prognosis, and which may be an independent prognostic marker for osteosarcoma patients. Functional experiments revealed that down-regulation of TBL1XR1 inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Further studies indicated that TBL1XR1 was a direct target of miR-186-5p, and miR-186-5p negatively regulated TBL1XR1 expression. Moreover, TBL1XR1 was involved in miR-186-5p-repressed migration and invasion in osteosarcoma cells. Taken together, miR-186-5p/TBL1XR1 may be a novel therapeutic candidate target in osteosarcoma treatment.