title: Capsaicin induces apoptosis in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells via the caspase cascade and the antioxidant enzyme system.
abstract: Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. This aggressive cancer mostly occurs in the long bones. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches, such as biological therapies and gene therapy, are required to efficiently treat osteosarcoma. Capsaicin (trans‑8‑methyl‑N‑vanillyl‑6‑nonenamide) has been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of several types of cancer cells and a number of studies have shown that osteosarcoma may be vulnerable to biological therapies. However, little is known regarding the therapeutic effects of capsaicin on osteosarcoma. This study investigated the effects of capsaicin on MG63 human osteosarcoma cells, in addition to elucidating the regulatory signaling pathways underlying the effects of capsaicin, the caspase cascade and the antioxidant enzyme system. The MG63 cell line was treated with various concentrations of capsaicin. Cells were analyzed using MTT and flow cytometry, and the presence of DNA fragmentation was evaluated using TUNEL assay. Results showed capsaicin induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. Thus, capsaicin exhibited an anticancer effect in osteosarcoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan 602739, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyun Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoon Ji
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joo Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Han Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hwan Seong
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020169:Caspases; D002211:Capsaicin
keywords: capsaicin; MG63 human osteosarcoma cell; apoptosis; caspase cascade; antioxidant enzyme system