Tspan15 plays a crucial role in metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Tetraspanin 15 (Tspan15) is a member of the tetraspanin family, which is associated with various biological events and several diseases, however, its role in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unknown. The current study aimed to clarify the role of Tspan15 in OSCC. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Tspan15 were up-regulated in OSCC cases and OSCC-derived cell lines. Significant up-regulated Tspan15 expression was found in the advanced OSCC cases; primary tumoral size (P = 0.042), regional lymph node metastasis (P = 0.036) and TNM classification (P = 0.024). The decreased expression of Tspan15 did not significantly affect cellular proliferation, whereas tumoral invasion and migration activities were suppressed in Tspan15-down-regulated cells, suggesting that Tspan15 might activate metastasis-related signaling. Moreover, in the Tspan15-down-regulated cells, the expression of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) 10 was also down-regulated and the cells secreted less soluble N-cadherin compared with control cells. And weak immunoreactivity of β-catenin in the nucleus was detected in Tspan15-down-regulated cells compared with the control cells. These findings suggested that overexpression of Tspan15 positively regulates development of OSCC, and that ADAM10, N-cadherin, β-catenin might be involved in the Tspan15-mediated pathway. These unusual conditions of cell adhesion molecules may lead to high metastasis rate found in Tspan15-overexpressing cases. •Tspan15 expression is upregulated in OSCC cell lines and advanced OSCC cases.•Tspan15 and ADAM10 knockdown cells show suppressed invasion and migration activities.•Tspan15 knockdown induces decreased expression of ADAM10 and N-cadherin, but β-catenin.•Tspan15 and ADAM10 knockdown induces decreased the amount of soluble N-cadherin.•Tspan15 knockdown suppresses nuclear localization of β-catenin.