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Calycosin induces apoptosis in osteosarcoma cell line via ERβ‑mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathways

Wei Tian1, Zhi-Wei Wang1, Bao-Ming Yuan1

  • 1Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Tongliao, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 028007, P.R. China.

Molecular Medicine Reports
|April 3, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Calycosin, a phytoestrogen, inhibits osteosarcoma cell growth and promotes apoptosis. This effect is mediated through estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Calycosin, a phytoestrogen, mimics estrogen and inhibits proliferation in estrogen-dependent cancers.
  • Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) plays a role in ERβ-induced inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate calycosin's effects on human osteosarcoma (OS) cells.
  • Examine the molecular mechanisms involving ERβ in calycosin's action on OS cells.

Main Methods:

  • Human OS MG-63 cells were treated with calycosin.
  • MTT and flow cytometry assays assessed proliferation and apoptosis.
  • Western blot analyzed protein expression of ERβ, p-PI3K, p-Akt, cleaved PARP, and cleaved caspase-3.

Main Results:

  • Calycosin inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in MG-63 cells.
  • ERβ expression increased with calycosin treatment; an ERβ inhibitor reversed these effects.
  • Calycosin downregulated p-PI3K and p-Akt, with reversal by the ERβ inhibitor.

Conclusions:

  • Calycosin inhibits osteosarcoma cell proliferation and induces apoptosis.
  • These effects are mediated by ERβ-dependent inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway.
  • ERβ influences downstream signaling of PARP1 and caspase-3, impacting cell fate.
Keywords:
calycosinosteosarcomaestrogen receptor βapoptosis

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