Curcumol inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of human osteosarcoma cell lines

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of curcumol on in vitro proliferation and apoptosis of human osteosarcoma cell lines MG-63 and U2OS. Methods MG-63 cells and U2OS cells were divided into control group and 20, 40, 80 and 160 μmol/L curcumol groups. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation levels of MG-63 and U2OS cells, and Transwell chamber assay was used for cell migration and invasion and flow cytometry was used for cell apoptosis. RT-qPCR and Western blot were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl2, caspase and β-catenin. Results Curcumol inhibited the proliferation of MG-63 and U2OS cells in a concentration-dependent manner, and the IC50 values were 128.03 μmol/L and 117.95 μmol/L respectively. Compared with the control group, curcumol significantly inhibited the in vitro migration and invasion of MG-63 and U2OS cells (P＜0.05) and induced the cell apoptosis (P＜0.05). Compared with the control group, expressions of Bax and caspase 3 were promoted while expression of Bcl2 was inhibited in curcumol groups (P＜0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of β-catenin in MG-63 and U2OS cells were signifi- cantly inhibited (P＜0.05). Conclusions Curcumol significantly inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of human osteosarcoma cell lines MG-63 and U2OS.

Keywords

• curcumol|β-catenin|osteosarcoma|cell proliferation|cell apoptosis