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Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro
Published on: March 18, 2014
Sensitization of osteosarcoma cell line SaOS-2 to chemotherapy by downregulating survivin
Jun Zou1, Minfeng Gan, Nana Mao
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Background And Aims:
Osteosarcoma is the most frequent malignant bone tumor with a peak incidence in the second and third decades of life. Survivin, a member of the IAP family of proteins, is overexpressed in osteosarcomas and plays an important role in protecting cells from apoptosis. Here we investigated the anti-cancer effects of downregulating survivin by shRNA vector pSUPER-sh in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs on human osteosarcoma cells.
Methods:
Expression of survivin was detected by Western blot. The effects of pSUPER-sh and chemotherapeutic drugs on osteosarcoma cell lines Saos-2 and U2OS by cell viability assay and its underlying mechanisms were analyzed by flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity assay.
Results:
Downregulated survivin could significantly induce apoptosis of osteosarcoma cell lines Saos-2 and U2OS. The effect probably resulted from downregulation of survivin induced by pSUPER-sh. Importantly, we found that the downregulation of survivin by pSUPER-sh could enhance the anticancer effects of chemotherapies such as etoposide, cisplatin and doxorubicin through decreasing mitochondrial membrane potentials and increasing caspase-3 activity.
Conclusions:
Downregulated survivin by pSUPER-sh could markedly induce apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells lines and pSUPER-sh may be a promising adjuvant in osteosarcoma chemotherapy.
Insights
Downregulating survivin with pSUPER-sh induces apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. This approach enhances chemotherapy effectiveness, offering a promising strategy for osteosarcoma treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Osteosarcoma is a common bone cancer in young adults.
- Survivin protein overexpression promotes cancer cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis.
- Targeting survivin offers a potential therapeutic strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-cancer effects of survivin downregulation using pSUPER-sh.
- To evaluate the combined effects of pSUPER-sh and chemotherapy on osteosarcoma cells.
Main Methods:
- Survivin expression analyzed via Western blot.
- Cell viability assessed using assays on Saos-2 and U2OS cell lines.
- Apoptosis mechanisms studied through flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity assays.
Main Results:
- pSUPER-sh significantly induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells by downregulating survivin.
- Survivin downregulation enhanced the efficacy of etoposide, cisplatin, and doxorubicin.
- Mechanisms involved decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increased caspase-3 activity.
Conclusions:
- Downregulating survivin with pSUPER-sh effectively induces osteosarcoma cell apoptosis.
- pSUPER-sh shows potential as an adjuvant therapy to improve osteosarcoma chemotherapy outcomes.
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