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Shikonin promotes adriamycin‑induced apoptosis by upregulating caspase‑3 and caspase‑8 in osteosarcoma

Qing Yang1, Suoyuan Li2, Zeze Fu3

  • 1Department of Orthopedics, Nanjing Medical University Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China.

Molecular Medicine Reports
|June 20, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Shikonin (SK) enhances adriamycin (ADM) chemotherapy for drug-resistant osteosarcoma by promoting apoptosis. This combination therapy increases the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, offering a potential new treatment strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy.
  • Cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs like adriamycin (ADM).
  • Shikonin (SK), derived from Chinese medicinal herbs, shows potential in cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and mechanism of SK in osteosarcoma chemotherapy.
  • To evaluate SK's effect on ADM resistance in osteosarcoma cells.

Main Methods:

  • Cell viability assessed using CCK-8 assay.
  • Protein expression of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8, and PARP analyzed by Western blot.
  • Cell cycle and apoptosis analyzed via flow cytometry.

Main Results:

  • Combined SK and ADM treatment significantly reduced osteosarcoma cell survival in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
  • Increased expression of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8, and PARP observed post-treatment.
  • Significant induction of apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells by the combined SK and ADM therapy.

Conclusions:

  • SK cooperates with ADM to enhance chemotherapy efficacy in osteosarcoma.
  • The mechanism involves the induction of caspase-3- and caspase-8-dependent apoptosis.
  • SK shows promise as an enhancer for treating drug-resistant osteosarcoma.

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