Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3H subunit (EIF3H) is a member of the EIF3 family and exhibits a central role in translation initiation in higher eukaryotes. Although EIF3H expression is upregulated in numerous tumour types, its potential role in human osteosarcoma (OS) has not yet been investigated. In the present study, it was demonstrated that EIF3H mRNA expression was upregulated in the human OS cell lines Saos-2 and U2OS. A recombinant lentivirus harbouring short hairpin RNA targeting EIF3H was constructed and successfully infected human OS Saos-2 and U2OS cells, resulting in 95% downregulated EIF3H expression compared with the respective control groups. Knockdown of EIF3H significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of OS cells in vitro, and tumour growth in nude mice in vivo. Flow cytometry analysis revealed cell cycle arrest and promotion of apoptosis in OS cells with EIF3H knocked down. In conclusion, the results strongly suggested that EIF3H is a critical factor mediating the growth of OS cells and may represent a novel therapeutic target.
Keywords: EIF3H; knockdown; osteosarcoma; proliferation; shRNA; tumorigenesis.