Gallic acid induces the apoptosis of human osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo via the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 2012 Dec;27(10):701-10. doi: 10.1089/cbr.2012.1245. Epub 2012 Jul 31.

Abstract

To examine the antitumor effects of gallic acid (GA) on osteosarcoma, two human osteosarcoma cell lines U-2OS and MNNG/HOS were treated by GA and subjected to cell proliferation and apoptosis assays. In addition, MNNG/HOS xenograft tumors were established in nude BALB/c mice to evaluate the anticancer capacity of GA in vivo. The results showed that GA inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells, accompanied by the upregulation of p-38 activation and the downregulation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) activation. Additionally, p38 MAPK inhibitor abrogated GA-induced growth inhibition of osteosarcoma cells, whereas JNK or ERK1/2 inhibitors sensitized osteosarcoma cells to GA-induced growth inhibition. In vivo studies further showed that GA administration decreased xenograft tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated the downregulation of PCNA and CD31 expression and upregulation of apoptosis in MNNG/HOS tumor tissues following GA treatment. This study demonstrates the antitumor efficacy of GA for osteosarcoma that is mediated by the modulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Our findings suggest that GA could be a potent agent for osteosarcoma intervention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Bone Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Growth Processes / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gallic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / genetics*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma / drug therapy*
  • Osteosarcoma / enzymology
  • Osteosarcoma / genetics
  • Osteosarcoma / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Gallic Acid
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4