Evodiamine Exerts Anticancer Effects Against 143B and MG63 Cells Through the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone neoplasm and is associated with abysmal prognosis. There are limitations of current treatment methods. Therefore, developing new agents to treat osteosarcoma is exceptionally urgent. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of evodiamine (EVO) on osteosarcoma cells and, meanwhile, to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of EVO on the proliferation of osteosarcoma was detected by MTT assay, crystal violet assay and colony formation assay. The effects of EVO on the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma were detected by wound-healing assay and transwell assay. The effect of EVO on apoptosis of osteosarcoma was measured by Hoechst 33258 staining and cell cycle assay. The protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting assay. The activity of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway was detected by luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting assay. RESULTS: According to MTT, crystal violet and colony formation assay results, EVO significantly inhibited the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Hoechst 33258 staining assay revealed that EVO induced cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, EVO inhibited the migration and invasion of the osteosarcoma cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that EVO suppresses metastatic through suppressing epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) as indicated by elevating the expression of epithelial marker E‐cadherin and reducing the expression of mesenchymal markers N‐cadherin and vimentin, as well as EMT transcription factors Snail and MMPs. Subsequently, EVO induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase that correlated with reduced levels of cyclin D1 protein, while the apoptotic effects of EVO were associated with the upregulation of Bax and Bad and a decrease in Bcl-2 protein levels. Furthermore, EVO exerted the anticancer effects by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway in osteosarcoma cells. CONCLUSION: In summary, EVO exhibited potent anticancer effects against human osteosarcoma cells and promoted apoptosis through suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These results indicated that EVO may be regarded as a new approach for osteosarcoma treatment.