Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the anticancer effects of β-elemene and paclitaxel for bone neoplasms. MTT assay, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, flow cytometry and immunostaining were used to analyze the combined effects of β-elemene and paclitaxel both in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that combined treatment of β-elemene and paclitaxel (β-elemene-paclitaxel) significantly inhibited growth and aggressiveness of U-2OS cells compared with either β-elemene or paclitaxel treatment alone. It was demonstrated that β-elemene promoted paclitaxel-induced apoptosis of U-2OS cells. Anti-apoptosis B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 and Bcl-w genes were downregulated and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated agonist of cell death and caspase-3 genes were upregulated in U-2OS cells following treatment with β-elemene-paclitaxel. Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel arrested the cell cycle and decreased cyclin-dependent kinase, cyclin-B1, P21 and P27 expression levels and decreased resistant genes alterations of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1, LDL receptor related protein and TS in U-2OS cells. Results demonstrated that β-elemene-paclitaxel decreased G-protein coupled receptor 124 (GPR124), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-3, MMP-9 expression levels and increased endostatin, TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2 expression in U-2OS cells. In vivo assay demonstrated that β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment inhibited tumor growth of BALB/c-nu/nu nude mice and prolonged survival rate of tumor-bearing mice. Immunostaining demonstrated that β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment increased apoptotic bodies, GPR124 and increased endostatin, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression in tumor tissues. In conclusion, these results suggest that the combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel is more effective at inhibiting bone neoplasm growth than β-elemene or paclitaxel single treatment GPR124.
Keywords: bone neoplasms, β-elemene, paclitaxel apoptosis, GPR124
Introduction
Bone neoplasm is typical systemic malignant disease, which mainly leads to common symptoms of bone and joint pain and fatigue in patients (1,2). Osteosarcoma is the most common cancer-caused dead and the prognosis remains incompletely understand due to the paucity of effective therapeutic targets that significantly influences quality of life and mean survival rate of the patients with osteosarcoma (3,4). Clinicopathological and molecular correlations explain the role of bone marrow microvessel density (MVD) and plasma angiogenic factors in myeloproliferative neoplasms and highlight the strong correlation of MVD with plasma angiogenic factors, JAK2 mutant allele burden, and bone marrow fibrosis in myeloproliferative neoplasms (5).
Paclitaxel is a secondary metabolite of taxus plant that has been reported to association with inhibition of cancer cells growth (6,7). Researches have showed that paclitaxel leads to generation of tubulin and tubulin dimer, which promotes the polymerization of tubulin and the assembly of microtubule and further results in cells cycle arrest for tumor cells (8,9). Previous studies have investigated the paclitaxel can significantly inhibit ovarian cancer cells growth through cyclin-dependent kinase 11 (CDK11) and inhibition of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling in preclinical pancreatic cancer models (10,11). Notably, paclitaxel shows antitumor activity through the interplay with apoptosis network in triple-negative breast cancer, indicating that paclitaxel has therapeutic potential for human endometrial cancer by targeting of endogenous apoptosis signaling pathway (12,13).
Elemene is a new drug extracted from the activating blood circulation herbs, which presents the broad-spectrum antineoplastic, immune protection and other effects (14). In recent years, evidences have indicated that β-elemene has the effects to induce cells apoptosis and differentiation, reverses multiple drug resistance of tumor, and enhances the sensibility of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy (14,15). Interestingly, antineoplastic effects of β-elemene on prostate cancer cells and other types of solid tumor cells have been investigated and supported that β-elemene may act as a new potentially therapeutic drug for castration-resistant prostate cancer and other solid tumors (16).
Therefore, the purpose of this study investigated the combined anticancer effects of β-elemene and paclitaxel on bone neoplasms. We analyzed bone neoplasm cells growth, cells cycle, apoptosis and in vivo growth after treatment with β-elemene-paclitaxel. We also focused the important function of gene G-protein coupled receptor 124 (GPR124) in β-elemene-paclitaxel-inhibited growth of bone neoplasms.
Materials and methods
Ethics statement
The present study was carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. All experimental protocols and animals were performed in accordance with National Institutes of Health and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Nankai Hospital of Tianjin.
Cell line
U-2OS cells were purchased from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA). The cells were cultured using RPMI1640 medium (Biosera, Nuaille, France) with 10% FBS at 37°C in CO2 incubator (5%).
MTT assay
U-2OS cells were incubated with β-elemene (100 mg/ml), paclitaxel (20 mg/ml) or combined treatment in 96-well plates for 24, 48 and 72 h in triplicate for each condition with PBS as control in 5% CO2 at 37°C for 24 h. Subsequently, the control group was added with MTT solution after the removal of supernatant thereafter incubated for 4 h. In the blank control group 100 µl DMSO was added after removal of the supernatant after that shocked for 30 min, the enzyme standard instrument were used to detect at 570 nm (680 Microplate reader; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, CA, USA).
Flow cytometry assay
U-2OS cells were grown at 37°C with 5% CO2 until 90% confluence was formatted. Cells were then incubated with β-elemene (100 mg/ml), paclitaxel (20 mg/ml) or combined treatment for 24 h. After incubation, the tumor cells were trypsinized and collected. The cells were then washed in cold PBS, adjusted to 1×106 cells/ml with PBS, labeled with Annexin V-FITC and PI (Annexin V-FITC kit), and analyzed with a FACScan flow cytometer (both BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). The treatments were performed in triplicate, and the percentage of labeled cells undergoing apoptosis in each group was determined and calculated.
Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay
Total RNA in U-2OS cells was extracted using RNAzol, and DNase RNase-free was adopted to digest total RNA at 37°C for 15 min, and then RNeasy kit to purify RNA to adjust its concentration to 1 µg/µl. The 2 µg RNA was used as the template to synthetize cDNA by reacting with reverse transcriptase at 37°C for 120 min, at 99°C for 4 min, and at 4°C for 3 min respectively. Followed by, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method was adopted to amplify the gene expression of GPR124, TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2, matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endostatin, CDK1, cyclin-B1, P27, MDR1, LRP and TS (Table I) to determine the transcription level of mRNA, and β-actin was used as the housekeeping genes of internal control group. Eventually, agarose electrophoresis with 1% ethidium bromide was adopted to check PCR amplified products. Relative mRNA expression changes were calculated by 2-ΔΔCt. The results are expressed as the n-fold way compared to control.
Table I.
Sequences of primers were used in this study.
| Gene name | Sequence |
|---|---|
| GPR124 | Reverse: 5′-GGTCGTTCTACTGGGCTGATT-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-AGCAAGAGGGGATTTCACAAT-3′ | |
| TIMP-1 | Forward: 5′-GTCAGTGAGAAGCAAGTCGA-3′ |
| Reverse: 5′-ATGTTCTTCTCTGTGACCCA-3′ | |
| TIMP-2 | Forward: 5′-TGGGGACACCAGAAGTCAAC-3′ |
| Reverse: 5′-TTTTCAGAGCCTTGGAGGAG-3′ | |
| MMP-3 | Reverse: 5′-CTTCTTCAAGGACCGGTCA-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-GCTGGCTGAGTACCAGTA-3′ | |
| MMP-9 | Reverse: 5′-TGGGCTACGTGACCTATGAC-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-GCCCAGCCCACCTCCACTCC-3′ | |
| VEGF | Reverse: 5′-GCACCCATGGCAGAAGGAGGAG-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-GTGCTGACGCTAACTGACC-3′ | |
| Endostatin | Forward: 5′-ATGCACAGCCACCGCGACTT-3′ |
| Reverse: 5′-CTTCATGACTGCCTCCAAGTAG-3′ | |
| Bcl-2 | Forward: 5′-CTCAGCCAGCCAGTGACATA-3′ |
| Reverse: 5′-CCGTGCTCCAGATACAT-3′ | |
| Bcl-w | Forward: 5′-AGAGTGGACCACACTGCGC-3′ |
| Reverse: 5′-ACATCCCAACGGTCATCGTA-3′ | |
| Bax | Reverse: 5′-GGAGGGGATCAGTATATACA-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-GAAGATGGAGAGATGG-3′ | |
| Caspase-3 | Reverse: 5′-CTGTGAGATCACTGGCTTTG-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-TTGGAGGGAACAGACGAG-3′ | |
| CDK1 | Reverse: 5′-ACAGTGCATCATCGCTGTTC-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-CCGGAGAGGAGACTTCACAG-3′ | |
| Cyclin-B1 | Reverse: 5′-GAAAGCATCCAGCAATAGGC-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-TAAGGAAGCCTGGAGCACAG-3′ | |
| P27 | Reverse: 5′-CATGGTGAAACCCCGTCTCTA-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-GCCTCAGCCTCCCGAGTAG-3′ | |
| MDR1 | Reverse: 5′-GGGCAGAATCTTTCCACCA-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-TTAAATGTATACCCAAAGACAA-3′ | |
| LRP | Reverse: 5′-CGAATGGGTGTTTTCACATATG-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-CTTCAATTGTATTCAGGATGG-3′ | |
| TS | Reverse: 5′-CACCCTCAATATTTGGAA-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-CCGTTGTTGTAGGACTAATGAA-3′ | |
| β-actin | Reverse: 5′-CGGAGTCAACGGATTTGGTC-3′ |
| Forward: 5′-AGCCTTCTCCATGGTCGTGA-3′ |
GPR124, G-protein coupled receptor 124; TIMP, TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor; MMP, matrix metallopeptidase; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; Bcl, B-cell lymphoma; Bax, Bcl-2 associated X, apoptosis regulator; CDK1, cyclin dependent kinase 1; MDR1, ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1; LRP, LDL receptor related protein.
Cells invasion and migration assays
U-2OS cells were grown at 37°C with 5% CO2 until 90% confluence was formatted. U-2OS cells were then incubated with β-elemene (100 mg/ml), paclitaxel (20 mg/ml) or combined treatment for 24 h. For invasion assay, U-2OS cells were suspended as a density of 1×105 in 500 µl in serum-free RPMI 1640. Cells were subjected to the tops of BD BioCoat Matrigel Invasion Chambers (BD Biosciences) according to the manufacturer's instructions. For migration assay, cells were subjected to a control insert (BD Biosciences) instead of a Matrigel Invasion Chamber. The tumor cells migration and invasion were counted in at least three randomly stain-field microscope every membrane.
Western blot analysis
U-2OS cells were then incubated with β-elemene (100 mg/ml), paclitaxel (20 mg/ml) or combined treatment for 24 h. Cells were collected and lysed in RIPA buffer (M-PER reagent for the cells and T-PER reagent for the tissues, Thermo Scientific) followed homogenized at 4°C for 10 min. A total of 20 µg protein extracts was electrophoresed on 12.5% polyacrylamide gradient gels and then transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. The membranes were incubated in blocking buffer (5% milk) prior to incubation with primary antibodies at 4°C overnight. The primary rabbit anti-mouse antibodies used in the immunoblotting assays were: metastasis gene metastasis-associated protein (MTA) 3 (1:200; ab176346), MMP-3 (1:1,000; ab53015), MMP-9 (1:1,000; ab38898), VEGF (1:500; ab11938), GRP124 (1:500; ab67280), endostatin (1:500; ab64569), TIMP-1 (1:1,000; ab38978), TIMP-2 (1:500; ab180630), and β-actin (1:500; ab8226; all Abcam, Cambridge, UK). Horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.) was used at a 1:5,000 dilution and detected using a Western Blotting Luminol Reagent.
Animals study
6-8 weeks (n=60) old male BALB/c-nu/nu nude mice were purchased from Beijing University and housed in a temperature-controlled facility at 23±1°C and relative humidity of 50±5% with a 12-h light/dark cycle. Cultured U-2OS cells (5×107) in 20 µl PBS were subcutaneously injected into the right forelimb of nude mouse under aseptic condition. Mice were divided into four groups (n=10 in each group) and received treatment of 1.0 mg/kg β-elemene, 1.0 mg/kg paclitaxel and combined treatment (1.0 mg/kg β-elemene + 1.0 mg/kg paclitaxel) or PBS by intravenous injection. Treatments were initiated on day 3 after tumor implantation (diameter, 5–6 mm). The treatment was continued 7 times once time a day. The tumor volumes were calculated according to the formula, V=0.5xa2xb, calculate the relative tumor volume and draw growth curve [(a) short diameter and (b) the long diameter of tumor with vernier caliper].
Immunohistochemical staining
Paraffin-embedded tumor tissue sections were prepared and epitope retrieval was performed for further analysis. The paraffin sections were treated with hydrogen peroxide (3%) for 15 min and subsequently were blocked by a regular blocking solution for 20 min 37°C. The sections were incubated rabbit anti-mouse GRP124 (1:500; ab67280), VEGF (1:500; ab11938), and endostatin (1:500; ab64569; all Abcam) respectively, at 4°C for 12 h after blocking. All sections were washed three times and incubated with HRP-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.) was used at a 1:10,000 dilution for 1 h at 37°C. For apoptotic cells in tumor tissues, tumor sections were stained with TUNEL according to previous report (17).
Statistical analysis
The experiments data were expressed as mean ± standard (SD) deviation. The significant difference (P<0.05) of data of different groups were calculated using Duncan's multiple range test using SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).
Results
Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel on growth and cell cycle of U-2OS cells
The efficacy of β-elemene-paclitaxel on growth and cell cycle was investigated in U-2OS cells. Results demonstrated that combined treatment of β-elemene (100 mg/ml) and paclitaxel (20 mg/ml) significantly inhibited growth of U-2OS cells (Fig. 1A). Results also showed that inhibitory effects of β-elemene-paclitaxel for growth of U-2OS cells presented time-dependent manner (Fig. 1B). As shown in Fig. 1C-E, Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel, β-elemene and paclitaxel arrested U-2OS cells cycle at G1 and S, G1, S phase respectively. We found that decreased gene CDK1, cyclin-B1 and P27 expression levels in U-2OS cells (Fig. 1F). Collectively, these results suggest that treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel could inhibit growth and arrests cell cycle of U-2OS cells compared to single treatment.
Figure 1.
Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel inhibits growth and arrests cell cycle of U-2OS cells. (A) Combined treatment of β-elemene (100 mg/ml) and paclitaxel (20 mg/ml) significantly inhibits growth of U-2OS cells. (B) Combined treatment of β-elemene (100 mg/ml) and paclitaxel (20 mg/ml) suppresses growth of U-2OS cells in time-dependent manner. (C-E) Treatment of (C) β-elemene (D) paclitaxel and β-elemene-paclitaxel (E) arrested U-2OS cells cycle at G1 and S, G1, S phase respectively. (F) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel decreases gene CDK1, cyclin-B1 and P27 expression levels in U-2OS cells, **P<0.01. CDK1, cyclin-dependent kinase 11.
Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel on apoptosis of U-2OS cells
Efficacy of β-elemene-paclitaxel-induced apoptosis of U-2OS cells was analyzed in this study. Paclitaxel (20 mg/ml)-induced apoptosis of U-2OS cells was promoted by β-elemene (100 mg/ml) after 24-h incubation (Fig. 2A). Gene analysis demonstrated that β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment showed lower expression of B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 and Bcl-w anti-apoptosis genes compared to β-elemene and paclitaxel group (Fig. 2B). However, pro-apoptosis Bad and caspase-3 genes were markedly up-regulated in U-2OS cells by β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment (Fig. 2C). We also investigated the effects of β-elemene on drug resistant genes for paclitaxel in U-2OS cells. As shown in Fig. 2D, β-elemene decreased drug resistant genes expression levels of MDR1, LRP and TS in U-2OS cells (Fig. 2D). These results indicate that β-elemene enhances apoptosis of bone neoplasms cells induced by paclitaxel via decreasing of drug resistant genes expression.
Figure 2.
Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel induces apoptosis of U-2OS cells. (A) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel induces apoptosis of U-2OS cells. (B) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel decreases expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-w anti-apoptosis genes compared to β-elemene and paclitaxel group. (C) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel decreases expression of Bad and caspase-3 pro-apoptosis genes compared to β-elemene and paclitaxel group. (D) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel decreases expression of MDR, LRP, TS genes compared to β-elemene and paclitaxel group, **P<0.01. Bcl, B-cell lymphoma.
Effects of β-elemene on drug resistant genes for paclitaxel Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel on migration and invasion of U-2OS cells
Anti-metastasis effects of β-elemene-paclitaxel were analyzed in U-2OS cells. As shown in Fig. 3A, B, β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment significantly inhibited migration and invasion of U-2OS cells. We showed that tumor-metastasis gene MTA3 and VEGF expression after treatment with β-elemene-paclitaxel (Fig. 3C). Western blot also confirmed the efficacy of β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment on inhibition of MTA3 and VEGF expression in U-2OS cells (Fig. 3D). These results indicate that Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel can efficiently inhibit migration and invasion of U-2OS cells compared to either β-elemene or paclitaxel treatment.
Figure 3.
Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel inhibits migration and invasion of U-2OS cells. (A and B) β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment significantly inhibits migration (A) and invasion (B) of U-2OS cells in vitro. (C) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel suppresses MTA3 and VEGF genes expression levels in U-2OS cells. (D) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel suppresses MTA3 and VEGF protein expression levels in U-2OS cells, **P<0.01. MTA, metastasis-associated protein 3; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.
Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel on tumor angiogenesis-related gene expression in U-2OS cells
In order to analyze the inhibitory effects of treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel, apoptosis tumor angiogenesis-related gene expression levels were detected in U-2OS cells. Results demonstrated that β-elemene-paclitaxel combination significantly decreased GPR124, MMP-3 and MMP-9 gene and protein expression levels in U-2OS cells (Fig. 4A, B). However, we showed that β-elemene-paclitaxel combination significantly increased endostatin, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression in U-2OS cells compared single treatment of β-elemene and paclitaxel (Fig. 4C, D). Collectively, these results indicate that Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel is beneficial for controlling U-2OS cells growth by regulation of apoptosis tumor angiogenesis-related gene expression in U-2OS cells.
Figure 4.
Treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel regulates tumor angiogenesis-related gene expression in U-2OS cells. (A and B) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel decreases GPR124, MMP-3 and MMP-9 gene (A) and protein (B) expression levels in U-2OS cells. (C and D) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel combination increases endostatin, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA (C) and protein (D) expression in U-2OS cells compared single treatment of β-elemene and paclitaxel. **P<0.01. GPR124, G-protein coupled receptor 124; MTA, metastasis-associated protein 3; TIMP, TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor.
In vivo efficacy of β-elemene-paclitaxel in tumor-bearing mice
Finally, the in vivo efficacy of β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment was investigated in U-2OS-bearing mouse model. As shown in Fig. 5A, we showed that β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth compared to either β-elemene or paclitaxel treatment in a 24-day observation. Immunostaining demonstrated that β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment increased numbers of apoptotic body and GPR124 expression in tumor tissue compared to β-elemene or paclitaxel treatment group (Fig. 5B). Immunohistochemistry assays demonstrated that MMP-3 and VEGF expression levels were significantly increased in tumor tissue after β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment compared to β-elemene or paclitaxel treatment groups (Fig. 5C). 120-day observation indicated that β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment promoted survival rate of tumor-bearing mice (Fig. 5D). These results suggest that β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment is more effective in inhibition of U-2OS cells growth in vivo.
Figure 5.
In vivo efficacy of β-elemene-paclitaxel in tumor-bearing mice. (A) β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment significantly inhibits tumor growth compared to either β-elemene or paclitaxel treatment in a 24-day observation. (B) β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment increased numbers of apoptotic body and GPR124 expression in tumor tissue. (C) Combined treatment of β-elemene-paclitaxel decreases MMP-3 and VEGF expression levels in tumor tissue. (D) β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment prolongs survival time of tumor-bearing mice. **P<0.01. GPR124, G-protein coupled receptor 124; MTA, metastasis-associated protein 3; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.
Discussion
Bone neoplasm is one kind of malignant tumors that cells occur in skeleton and its affiliates, which has been reported to present aberrant growth and migration in osseous tissues (18,19). Evidences have indicated that systemic administration of paclitaxel can be regarded as efficient therapy for human prostate cancer metastasis in bone of nude mice by simultaneous blockade of platelet-derived growth factor-receptor and epidermal growth factor-receptor signaling (20). In addition, antitumor effect of β-elemene for cancer cells is mediated by induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death (21). In this study, we analyzed combined treatment of β-elemene and paclitaxel on bone neoplasm both in vitro and in vivo. Findings in this study showed that combined treatment of β-elemene and paclitaxel significantly inhibited growth and aggressiveness of U-2OS cells. In vitro and in vivo assays have demonstrated that β-elemene-paclitaxel treatment induced apoptosis and increased numbers of apoptotic body in tumor tissue compared to control groups.
Currently, β-elemene in combination with cisplatin has been regarded as a regimen for prostate cancer chemotherapy through regulation of apoptosis-related gene in tumor cells (22). Liu et al have suggested that β-elemene induces apoptosis as well as protective autophagy in human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells by inhibiting the activity of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K1 signalling pathway (23). Results in this study demonstrated that β-elemene could induce apoptosis of U-2OS cells by reduction of anti-apoptosis gene and increasing pro-apoptosis gene expression levels. Zhang et al also indicated that β-elemene blocks epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 through Smad3-mediated down-regulation of nuclear transcription factors (24). This study found that β-elemene inhibited tumor angiogenesis-related gene GPR124, VEGFR, MMP-3 and MMP-9 expression in U-2OS cells, while increased endostatin, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 gene and protein expression in U-2OS cells. Reports have showed that GPR124 could affect migration and differentiation in endothelial cells in the generation and growth process of blood vessel. The role of GPR124 in endothelial cells regulates VEGF-induced tumor angiogenesis has been reported determined by the growth and the metastasis of in some tumors (25). Our results showed that β-elemene treatment led to decreasing of GPR124 and VEGF in U-2OS cells.
The combined treatments for human cancers could efficiently inhibit growth and prolong survival of cancer patients, including chemotherapeutic and antiangiogenic drugs, as well as targeting moieties (26). Previous studies have indicated that antiangiogenic antitumor activity of paclitaxel is efficiently for inhibiting breast cancer bone metastasis mouse model (27,28). Although the emergence of adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been greatly improved the survival rate of patients with bone cancer, the morbidity and mortality rate of osteosarcoma is still keeping a steady increase (29). This research found that paclitaxel can inhibit the hematogenous metastasis and lymphatic metastasis of tumor via down-regulation for the protein level of GPR124, VEGF, MMP-3 and MMP-9 in U-2OS cells, which indicated that paclitaxel could inhibit the hematogenous metastasis and tumor growth through reducing vascular growth factor and its receptors. Importantly, we found that paclitaxel induced apoptosis of U-2OS cells and combined β-elemene and paclitaxel promoted apoptosis of U-2OS cells both in vitro and in vivo. Previous reports have showed that gene expression levels of MDR1, LRP and TS played important role in increasing the risk of drug-resistance in the treatment of human cancer (30–32). Interestingly, our results found that β-elemene decreased drug resistant genes expression levels of MDR1, LRP and TS in U-2OS cells, which contributed to apoptosis of U-2OS cells.
In conclusion, the combined treatment of β-elemene and paclitaxel enhanced the inhibition of U-2OS cells growth and aggressiveness, as well as increasing apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Especially, it is proved through the molecular biology experiment that the combined effect of β-elemene and paclitaxel can stimulate apoptosis and decrease the expression of GPR124, which further led to inhibition of growth and metastasis and arresting of cells cycle. Notably, tumor growth can be effectively inhibited through regulating the expression of GPR124 in bone cancer cells that contributed to long survival of tumor-bearing mice.
Acknowledgements
Not applicable.
Funding
No funding was received.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Authors' contributions
ZW and YL constructed the experiments and organized the data, FZ, ZP, JH assisted in the analysis of data and ZW wrote the manuscript.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Nankai Hospital of Tianjin.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Data Availability Statement
The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.