title: Dihydroartemisinin inhibits tumor growth of human osteosarcoma cells by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
abstract: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of bone cancer. Even with early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, the prognosis for OS is poor. In the present study, we investigated the proliferation and invasion inhibitory effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on human OS cells and the possible molecular mechanisms involved. We demonstrated that DHA can inhibit proliferation, decrease migration, reduce invasion and induce apoptosis in human OS cells. Using an in vivo tumor animal model, we confirmed that DHA can prevent OS formation and maintain intact bone structure in athymic mice. In addition, we examined the possible molecular mechanisms mediating the function of DHA. We found that the total protein levels and transcriptional activity of β-catenin in OS cells are reduced by DHA treatment, and this may result from the increased catalytic activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). Moreover, the inhibitory effect of DHA on OS cells is reversed by overexpression of β-catenin, but is further enhanced by knockdown of β-catenin, respectively. Collectively, our results reveal that DHA can inhibit tumor growth of OS cells by inactivating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Therefore, DHA is a promising chemotherapy agent in the treatment of human OS.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine Designated by The Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yueliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Guowei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yaguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Tongchuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jinyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; C039060:artenimol; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605507:Gsk3b protein, mouse; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9