Propofol suppresses invasion and induces apoptosis of osteosarcoma cell in vitro via downregulation of TGF-β1 expression.

OBJECTIVE

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant tumor of the bone, with a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. Propofol has been proposed to play a role of antitumor in various cancers. However, the functions and mechanisms of propofol in OS is still not clear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The different concentrations of propofol were co-incubated with osteosarcoma MG-63 lines for 72 hrs. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion were detected by MTT assay, Flow cytometry analysis, and Matrigel invasion assay. Western blot was used to detect the TGF-β1 protein levels. MG-63 cells were treated with human recombinant TGF-β1 (rh TGF-β1) to assess the role of TGF-β1 in propofol-induced anti-tumor activity.

RESULTS

Propofol significantly inhibited cell proliferation and invasion and promoted apoptosis of MG-63 lines cells. Propofol also efficiently reduced TGF-β1 expression. Moreover, restoration of TGF-β1 by rhTGF-β1 treatment reversed the effects of propofol on the biological behavior of OS cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol can effectively inhibit proliferation and invasion and induce apoptosis of OS cells through, at least partly, downregulation of TGF-β1 expression.