Isoliquiritigenin Suppresses Osteosarcoma U2OS Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Regulating the PI3K/Akt Signalling Pathway

Aims: Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a flavonoid, that has been shown to have antioxidant, vasorelaxant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. This study aimed to explore the antitumor effect of ISL on human osteosarcoma U2OS cells and investigate the mechanism of this effect.

Methods: The effect of ISL on osteosarcoma U2OS cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and Apoptosis were determined by a CCK8 assay, a transwell invasion assay, a transwell migration assay, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, respectively. In addition, the protein expression levels of Bcl2, Bax, active Caspase-3, Akt, mTOR, p70, and Cyclin D1 were detected by western blotting.

Results: ISL suppressed cell proliferation, inhibited invasion and migration, and promoted Apoptosis in U2OS cells. After treatment with ISL, the protein expression levels of Bax and active Caspase-3 increased, while the level of Bcl-2 declined significantly. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of Akt and mTOR declined significantly compared with that of the control.

Conclusion: ISL could retard proliferation and promote Apoptosis of U2OS cells possibly by suppressing the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, indicating that it might be a potential therapeutic agent for osteosarcoma treatment.