Pharmacologic Inhibition of Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin Phosphorylation is a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Rhabdomyosarcoma

Figure 3

siRNA-mediated interference of ERM proteins reduces RMS cell viability. (a) Representative Western blots showing relative expression of ezrin, radixin, or moesin in RD cells treated with pooled siRNAs against ezrin, radixin, moesin, or all three together. Nontargeting scrambled (control) siRNA was used as a negative control for target protein expression, and β-actin was used as a loading control. (b) Quantification of ezrin, radixin, and moesin expression in cells treated with siRNA against ERM proteins relative to the corresponding target expression in control siRNA-treated cells. Expression is plotted as a function of relative band intensities determined using ImageJ software. (c) Viable cell counts as determined by trypan blue staining 96 h after treatment of RD cells with siRNA against ERM proteins or nontargeting control siRNA. Bars represent mean ± SEM, and asterisks represent a significant difference between control siRNA treatment group and ERM siRNA treatment groups as determined by one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons tests (, , , and ). All data are representative of two independent experiments.

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