Title:Melittin Inhibits Growth of Human Osteosarcoma 143B Cells through
Induction of Apoptosis via Suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Volume: 22
Issue: 18
Author(s): Xiaoliang Xie, Yumei Li, Haixia Zhu, Lin Chen, Deta Chen, Shengming Lin and Tianyou Fan*
Affiliation:
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese
Medicine, Shanghai, China
Keywords:
Melittin, osteosarcoma, cell proliferation, apoptosis, xenografts, β-catenin.
Abstract:
Background and Purpose: Osteosarcoma is the most commonly seen type of primary malignant bone tumors
in children and adolescents. Partial patients with osteosarcoma cannot tolerate the side effects of chemotherapy
drugs. Hence, it is urgent to find anti-osteosarcoma drugs with low side effects. Melittin is an anti-tumor Traditional
Chinese Medicine with low side effects. The purpose of this study was to explore the anti-osteosarcoma effect of melittin
and its possible molecular mechanisms.
Methods: The effects of melittin on cell growth were detected by CCK-8, clonal formation, and flow cytometry. The
related molecules were also investigated by Real-time PCR and Western blot. A xenograft model in nude mice was
established to observe the effects of melittin on tumor growth and the related molecular expression was detected by
immunohistochemistry.
Results: Melittin can inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma 143B cells, reduce colony formation, and induce apoptosis
while significantly up-regulating the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 and down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2
proteins. Moreover, treatment with melittin significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of β-catenin and Wnt/β-
catenin related genes (LRP5, c-Myc, and Survivin) in osteosarcoma 143B cells in vitro. The xenograft model found
that melittin significantly inhibited tumor growth and decreased the protein expression levels of β-catenin and Wnt/β-
catenin related genes in vivo.
Conclusion: These findings show that melittin could inhibit the growth of osteosarcoma 143B cells, which may be
related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activity and induce apoptosis by up-regulating the ratio of
Bax/Bcl-2 in osteosarcoma 143B cells. Therefore, melittin is a promising anti-tumor drug for the treatment of osteosarcoma.