RESUMO
Aim To investigate the effect of licochalcone A (LCA) on proliferation and apoptosis of osteosarcoma HOS and U2OS cells and to explore its possible molecular mechanism. Methods The HOS and U2OS cells were cultured in vitro. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of the cells after being treated with different concentrations of LCA at different intervention time. Then HOS and U2OS cells were treated with 0. 1% DMSO, or different concentrations of LCA (5, 10, 20 μmol/L), and flow cytometry was used to assess the cell apoptosis. The expression of apoptosis-related protein cleaved PARP1, Bcl-2, Bax, and Akt, ERK were detected by Western blot. The antitumor effect of LCA was detected on U2OS xenograft mice in vivo. Results LCA could inhibit the proliferation of HOS and U2OS cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry showed that LCA treatment could induce cell apoptosis. Western blot results showed that LCA could inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK, increase the expression of cleaved PARP1 and Bax, and decrease the expression of Bcl-2. In the tumor-bearing mouse models, LCA significantly decreased the tumor volume (P < 0. 05) and weight (P < 0. 01). Conclusions LCA could inhibit the proliferation of HOS and U2OS and induce apoptosis possibly by inhibiting the Akt/ERK signaling pathway.