Investigating the synergy of Shikonin and Valproic acid in inducing apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells via ROS-mediated EGR1 expression

Copyright © 2024 The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved..

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is the most prevalent malignant bone tumour with a poor prognosis. Shikonin (SHK) is derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Lithospermum that has been extensively studied for its notable anti-tumour effects, including for osteosarcoma. However, its application has certain limitations. Valproic acid (VPA) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) that has recently been employed as an adjunctive therapeutic agent that allows chromatin to assume a more relaxed state, thereby enhancing anti-tumour efficacy.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the synergistic anti-tumour efficacy of SHK in combination with VPA and elucidate its underlying mechanism.

METHODS/STUDY DESIGN: CCK-8 assays were utilized to calculate the combination index. Additional assays, including colony formation, acridine orange/ethidium bromide double fluorescent staining, and flow cytometry, were employed to evaluate the effects on osteosarcoma cells. Wound healing and transwell assays were utilized to assess cell mobility. RNA sequencing, PCR, and Western blot analyses were conducted to uncover the underlying mechanism. Rescue experiments were performed to validate the mechanism of apoptotic induction. The impact of SHK and VPA combination treatment on primary osteosarcoma cells was also assessed. Finally, in vivo experiments were conducted to validate its anti-tumour effects and mechanism.

RESULTS: The combination of SHK and VPA synergistically inhibited the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells in vitro and induced apoptosis in these cells. Through a comprehensive analysis involving RNA sequencing, PCR, Western blot, and rescue experiments, we have substantiated our hypothesis that the combination of SHK and VPA induced apoptosis via the ROS-EGR1-Bax axis. Importantly, our in vivo experiments corroborated these findings, demonstrating the potential of the SHK and VPA combination as a promising therapeutic approach for osteosarcoma.

CONCLUSION: The combination of SHK and VPA exerted an anti-tumour effect by inducing apoptosis through the ROS-EGR1-Bax pathway. Repurposing the old drug VPA demonstrated its effectiveness as an adjunctive therapeutic agent for SHK, enhancing its anti-tumour efficacy and revealing its potential value. Furthermore, our study expanded the application of natural compounds in the anti-tumour field and overcame some of their limitations through combination therapy. Finally, we enhanced the understanding of the mechanistic pathways linking reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. Additionally, we elucidated the role of EGR1 in osteosarcoma cells, offering novel strategies and concepts for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:126

Enthalten in:

Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology - 126(2024) vom: 08. März, Seite 155459

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Chen, Zhuo [VerfasserIn]
Wu, Feng-Feng [VerfasserIn]
Li, Jing [VerfasserIn]
Dong, Jia-Bao [VerfasserIn]
He, Hong-Yi [VerfasserIn]
Li, Xiong-Feng [VerfasserIn]
Lu, Qian [VerfasserIn]
Zhang, Wen-Xuan [VerfasserIn]
Shao, Chang-Ming [VerfasserIn]
Yao, Zhao-Nong [VerfasserIn]
Lin, Nong [VerfasserIn]
Ye, Zhao-Ming [VerfasserIn]
Xu, Jun-Tao [VerfasserIn]
Li, Heng-Yuan [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

3IK6592UBW
614OI1Z5WI
Bcl-2-Associated X Protein
EGR1
EGR1 protein, human
Early Growth Response Protein 1
Journal Article
Naphthoquinones
Osteosarcoma
ROS
Reactive Oxygen Species
Shikonin
Synergism
Valproic Acid
Valproic acid

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 11.03.2024

Date Revised 11.03.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155459

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM36907162X