ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We wanted to investigate the effects of Troglitazone (TRO) on the cellular growth in two human osteosarcoma cell lines (U2OS and HOS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell viability was assessed by performing trypan blue exclusion assay. FACScan analysis was performed to study the cell cycle and apoptosis. Antibodies against PTEN, tAkt, pAKt, Bcl-2, Bax, pRB, p21(Cip1), and beta-actin were used in the Western blot analysis. RESULTS: TRO inhibited the growth of both the osteosarcoma cell lines. TRO induced G0/G1 arrest in the cell cycle progression for both osteosarcoma cell lines. TRO induced the apoptosis of HOS cells, but it decreased apoptosis of the U2OS cells. TRO induced Rb dephosphorylation and the increased expression of p21(Cip1). TRO increased the PTEN and Bcl-2 expressions and it decreased the level of pAkt, pRb and Bax. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that TRO may be used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of human OS. Yet further study is required for uncovering the precise the mechanism of TRO.