7-3--dihydroxy-4--methoxyisoflavone and Osteosarcoma

Environmentally, bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known pollutant caused human health risk, including osteosarcoma (OS). OS, a deadly bone neoplasia, may occur in children and adults. However, the anti-OS pharmacotherapy prescribes limitedly in clinical practice. Interestingly, previous experimental evidences indicate calycosin-exerting potential anti-OS actions. Thus, in this report, we aimed to further characterize and detail the therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms of calycosin-anti-BPA-related OS by using network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses. In results, the bioinformatics data disclosed all mapped, core targets, biological functions, molecular pathways of calycosin to treat BPA-related OS. The computational analysis using molecular docking indicated that potential binding ability of core targets in calycosin to treat BPA-related OS was identified. Moreover, detailed biological functions and optimal pathways of calycosin-anti-BPA-related OS were revealed, as shown in integrated network maps. Taken together, these network pharmacology and structural biology findings illustrate the core biotargets, pharmacological functions and pathways of calycosin-anti-BPA-related OS. Potentially, these core targets identified by molecular docking may attribute to the potential clinical application of calycosin against BPA-related OS.[Formula: see text].

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Benzhydryl Compounds; Bone Neoplasms; Computational Biology; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Isoflavones; Molecular Docking Simulation; Osteosarcoma; Phenols

Calycosin is reportedly evidenced with pharmacologically treating bone cells. However, the comprehensive anti-osteosarcoma (OS) mechanisms of calycosin have not been uncovered. By using a systemic method of network pharmacology, the present study aimed to reveal potential anti-OS biotargets and molecular mechanisms played by calycosin. Moreover, human and animal experiments were conducted to verify the core biotargets of calycosin against OS. As results, all primary and core biotargets, biological processes, molecular pathways of calycosin against OS were revealed. Additionally, top 20 biological processes and pathways of calycosin against OS were identified. In human study, the OS sections resulted in reduced expressions of tumor protein p53 (TP53), Caspase-3 (CASP3), and elevated X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) expression in comparison with OS-free controls. As shown in cell culture study, calycosin-treated OS cells showed reduced cell proliferation, and promoted cell apoptosis. In TUNEL stains, calycosin resulted in elevated apoptotic cells. As showed in immunostaining, calycosin-treated OS cells exhibited intracellular up-regulation of TP53, CASP3 expressions, and decreased XIAP expressions. Taken together, the biological informational findings manifest the candidate and core biotargets, molecular functions and pathways of calycosin against OS. Attractively, these core biotargets may be used for effectively detecting and treating human OS.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Biomarkers, Tumor; Bone Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Computational Biology; Diagnostic Imaging; Drug Discovery; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene Regulatory Networks; Humans; Isoflavones; Osteosarcoma; Signal Transduction

Previous studies have shown that calycosin, a natural phytoestrogen which is structurally similar to estrogen, inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in estrogen‑dependent cancer types via the estrogen receptor (ER)β‑induced inhibition of PI3K/Akt. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of calycosin on human osteosarcoma (OS), and to examine the molecular mechanisms associated with ERβ. Human OS MG‑63 cells were treated with various concentrations of calycosin, and MTT and flow cytometry assays were used to assess the effects of calycosin on cellular proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, protein expression levels of ERβ, phosphorylated (p)‑PI3K, p‑Akt, cleaved poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP) and cleaved caspase‑3 were evaluated by western blot analysis. The present results suggested that calycosin inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in MG‑63 cells. Furthermore, increased ERβ expression was detected in OS MG‑63 cells treated with calycosin, and an ERβ inhibitor (PHTPP) reversed calycosin‑induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Moreover, phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt were significantly downregulated after calycosin treatment, whereas PHTPP reversed their phosphorylation. ERβ‑mediated PI3K/Akt downstream signaling pathways were found to influence the activity of poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase 1 and caspase‑3. Thus, the present results indicated that calycosin inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in OS MG‑63 cells, and that these effects were mediated by ERβ‑dependent inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathways.

Topics: Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Estrogen Receptor beta; Humans; Isoflavones; Osteosarcoma; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Pyrazoles; Pyrimidines; Signal Transduction

Previous studies have demonstrated that calycosin is a natural phytoestrogen with a similar structure to estrogen, which can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in a variety of tumors. Calycosin exerts potential pharmacological effects on osteosarcoma cells by inducing apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the specific molecular mechanism of calycosin‑induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. Cell proliferation was determined by an MTT assay. Annexin V/PI and JC‑1 staining were used to detect apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction, respectively, by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of caspases or mitochondrial proteins. The results revealed that calycosin reduced the cell viability of human osteosarcoma 143B cells, induced apoptosis and increased the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). In addition, calycosin increased the expression of the proapoptotic antiapoptotic proteins cleaved caspase‑3, cleaved caspase‑9, cleaved poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase and Bcl‑2‑associated X protein (Bax), and decreased the expression of the antiapoptotic proapoptotic protein B‑cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2), thus altering the Bax/Bcl‑2 ratio. In addition, the expression levels of cytochrome c were markedly decreased in the mitochondria and increased in the cytoplasm following calycosin treatment. Furthermore, calycosin treatment induced p38‑mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, whereas the p38‑MAPK inhibitor BIRB 796 markedly reversed cell viability, apoptosis and loss of MMP in 143B cells. These results suggested that calycosin inhibited osteosarcoma 143B cell growth via p38‑MAPK regulation of mitochondrial‑dependent intrinsic apoptotic pathways.

Topics: Bone Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Isoflavones; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mitochondria; Osteosarcoma; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phosphorylation

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant neoplasia in bone, characterized with main occurrence in teenagers. Calycosin (CC), a bioactive compound, is found to play potent pharmacological effects against cancer. Our previous study indicates CC-exerted benefits for anti-OS effect. However, further molecular mechanism behind this action needs to be investigated. In this study, human OS samples and clinical data were collected and used for further test and analysis. In addition, human osteosarcoma cell line (143B) and tumor-xenograft nude mice were used to evaluate antineoplastic activities of CC through a series of biochemical methods and immunoassays, respectively. Compared with non-OS controls, human OS samples showed increased levels of neoplastic microRNA-223 (miR-223), and elevated expressions of NF-κBp65, IκBα proteins in tumor cells. In cell culture study, CC-treated 143B cells showed reduced cell growth, increased lactic dehydrogenase (LD) content, and downregulated cellular miR-223 level. Immunolabeled cells of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in CC treatments were decreased dose-dependently, while caspase-3 positive cells were elevated. Further, protein expressions of NF-κBp65, IκBα in CC-treated cells were downregulated. In addition, tumor-xenograft nude mice followed by CC treatments exhibited reductions of tumor mass, miR-223 levels, and Bcl-2, PARP-positive cells, as well as downregulations of NF-κBp65, IκBα protein expressions in OS samples. Taken together, these experimental findings reveal that CC exhibits potential pharmacological activities against OS through inducing apoptosis and inhibiting miR-223-IκBα signaling pathway in neoplastic cells.

Topics: Adolescent; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Bone Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Child; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Isoflavones; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; MicroRNAs; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; Osteosarcoma; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factor RelA; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Osteosarcoma (OS) refers to a malignant tumor with potential invasiveness and metastasis; however, the current chemotherapy of OS is lacking. Thus, the alternative drug for treating OS is urgent to explore. Calycosin (CC) is evidenced in our previous study to play the anti-OS benefits for suppressing cancer cell proliferation. Consequently, further investigation of CC-medicated anti-invasive and metastatic effects against OS is needed. In the current study, the clinical samples of OS patients were collected for biological and staining assays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction. Meanwhile, the cell line and tumor-bearing nude mice were employed in assessing antimetastatic effects of CC against OS through biochemical tests and immunoassays. As a result, the OS patients exhibited upregulated neoplastic expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cellular mRNAs and proteins of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B alpha (IκBα), and epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 (ECT2). In cell-line study, CC-treated human OS cells exhibited induced cell apoptosis, reduced cell proliferation, and cellular MMP2 and PCNA concentration, inhibited cell migration, lowered expressions of IκBα ECT2 mRNAs, and proteins. In tumor-bearing nude mice study, CC-treated mice resulted in the dose-dependent reductions of tumor weights and intracellular MMP2 contents. As shown in further assays, neoplastic expressions of interleukin 6 protein, IκBα, ECT2 mRNAs, and proteins were downregulated dose-dependently in CC-treated tumor-bearing mice. In conclusion, these investigative findings suggest that CC may play the potential anti-invasive benefits against OS through suppressing metastasis-associated IκBα/ECT2 molecular pathway.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Isoflavones; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Mice; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Metastasis; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; Osteosarcoma; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Transplantation, Heterologous

BACKGROUND Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy and often presents at an early age. Calycosin is a phytoestrogen isoflavone, which has previously been reported to inhibit tumor cell growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of calycosin on apoptosis of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and ER-negative human osteosarcoma cell lines and tumor xenografts in mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cultured ER-positive MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells and ER-negative U2-OS human osteosarcoma cells were treated with increasing doses of calycosin (0, 25, 50, and 100 μm). Cell viability and apoptosis were studied by an MTT assay and flow cytometry. Western blot measured the expression levels of the apoptosis-related protein p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR in MG-63 cells, with and without pretreatment with the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, the AKT inhibitor, MK-2206, or the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin. MG-63 tumor-bearing nude mice were used to evaluate the effects of treatment with calycosin. RESULTS Calycosin treatment inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in MG-63 cells, but had no effect on U2-0S cells. In MG-63 cells, calycosin treatment increased the expression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway proteins; inhibitor assays showed that expression of the PI3K protein was most strongly associated with the antitumor effects of calycosin. In the nude mouse MG-63 tumor xenografts, calycosin inhibited tumor growth and regulated the expression levels of apoptosis-related PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway proteins. CONCLUSIONS The phytoestrogen, calycosin, induced apoptosis of cells of the ER-positive osteosarcoma cell line, MG-63, via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, with these effects being mainly due to PI3K.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Bone Neoplasms; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Humans; Isoflavones; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Osteosarcoma; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Receptors, Estrogen; Signal Transduction; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Recently, increasing studies have documented that tumorigenesis closely relates to apoptotic processes. Thus, inducing apoptosis is an anti-cancer strategy against osteosarcoma. Here we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of calycosin on human osteosarcoma cell (143B) in vitro. The results showed that calycosin dose-dependently inhibited 143B cell proliferation as reflected in tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay (P<0.01). In addition, calycosin effectively down-regulated cellular mRNA expressions of IκBα, NF-κB p65 and cyclin D1 through RT-PCR assay (P<0.01). Next, calycosin-mediated inhibitory effect on 143B tumor-bearing nude mice and the underlying mechanism were evaluated and discussed. As a result, calycosin administration significantly blocked solid tumor growth in 143B-harbored nude mice (P<0.01). Furthermore, intracellular Bcl-2 protein expression was effectively reduced in 143B-harbored tumor tissue through western blotting analysis (P<0.01), while intratumoral Apaf-1 and cleaved Caspase-3 protein levels were up-regulated, respectively (P<0.01). Taken together, calycosin possesses the anti-osteosarcoma potential, in which the mechanism involved was associated with activation of apoptotic, thus inducing apoptosis.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; Body Weight; Bone Neoplasms; Caspase 3; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Down-Regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Isoflavones; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; NF-kappa B; Osteosarcoma; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Previous studies have shown that some phytoestrogens inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in estrogen-dependent cancers via estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated signaling pathway. In view of the expression of ER in human osteosarcoma cells, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether formononetin and calycosin, two of the major isoflavones in Radix astragali, could also elicit anti-tumor activity against osteosarcoma, along with the underlying mechanism.. Human osteosarcoma cells U2OS were respectively treated with various concentrations of formononetin or calycosin. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, while apoptosis by flow cytometry. Next, the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes ERK, Akt, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 were quantified by real-time PCR and Western blotting.. Formononetin exhibited higher anti-proliferative activities toward human osteosarcoma cells U2OS, when compared with calycosin. Therefore, U2OS cells were then respectively treated with various concentrations of formononetin, in order to elucidate the isoflavones-related signaling pathway. It was found that formononetin dose-dependently triggered apoptosis of U2OS cells in vitro. Furthermore, treatment of formononetin led to significant inactivation of ERK and Akt, followed by downregulation of Bcl-2, upregulation of Bax and finally increased expression of caspase-3.. Formononetin is more effective than calycosin at promoting cell death of U2OS cells by induction of apoptosis, which is mediated by inactivation of ERK and Akt signaling pathways. Thus isoflavones, especially formononetin, may be useful as anti-cancer drugs for osteosarcoma through their apoptosis-inducing effects.

Topics: Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Humans; Isoflavones; Osteosarcoma; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt