Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

The role of signal transduction in cancer progression is well established and actively studied, including in osteosarcoma. The signal transduction pathways involved in the regulation of calcium metabolism are being intensively studied, with particular regard to phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) signaling. This family of enzymes helps to modulate calcium metabolism and is interconnected with additional signaling molecules belonging to different pathways. The expression and subcellular localization of PLCs have been shown to differ in normal cells compared to their neoplastic counterpart in different types of cancer. We now describe the localization of the PLC enzyme family in 4 human osteosarcoma cells different in origin and malignancy (MG63, U2OS, HOS and 143B cell lines). We identified cell line-specific differences and discussed possible meaning and implications.