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Bufalin inhibited the growth of human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells via down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax and triggering of the mitochondrial pathway

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

Cinobufacini (Huachansu), a Chinese medicine prepared from the skin of Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor (Bufonidae), has potent anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. However, the molecular mechanism of cell apoptosis induced by Bufalin remains elusive. Here, we investigated the apoptosis in Bufalin-treated human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells. The results showed that Bufalin could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Further investigation revealed that a disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MMP) and an up-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Bufalin-treated cells. By western blot analysis, we found that the up-regulation of Apaf-1, cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, and Bax/Bcl-2, varies with different concentration of Bufalin. These protein interactions may play a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis. Taken together, these results overall indicate that Bufalin could be used as an effective anti-tumor agent in therapy of osteosarcoma targets the mitochondrial-dependent signaling pathway.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Wang (Harbin Medical University) for his technical help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23 Youzheng street, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, 150001, China

    Dewei Wang & Zhenggang Bi

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  1. Dewei Wang
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  2. Zhenggang Bi
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Correspondence to Zhenggang Bi.

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Wang, D., Bi, Z. Bufalin inhibited the growth of human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells via down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax and triggering of the mitochondrial pathway. Tumor Biol. 35, 4885–4890 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-014-1640-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-014-1640-7

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