HIF-2α affects proliferation and apoptosis of MG-63 osteosarcoma cells through MAPK signaling

The present study explored the mechanism of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α in proliferation and apoptosis of the osteosarcoma cell line, MG-63. Cells were treated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) against HIF-2α (silenced group) or without siRNA (control group). Cell viability of MG-63 in the silenced and the control groups was determined by MTT assay; cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry; the expression of HIF-2α and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-p38 were measured by western blotting. According to MTT assay, 48 h after siRNA transfection, compared with the control group, cells in the silenced group significantly declined in quantity and the number of apoptotic cells increased significantly. The expression of HIF-2α and MAPK-p38 were significantly decreased (P<0.05). In conclusion, knockdown of HIF-2α in the osteosarcoma cell line reduced the proliferation of cancer cells and increased apoptosis. These effects likely occurred through the MAPK-p38 signaling pathway.