Knockdown of PARP-1 Inhibits Proliferation and ERK Signals, Increasing Drug Sensitivity in Osteosarcoma U2OS Cells

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) is reported to be involved in DNA repair and is now recognized as a key regulator in carcinogenesis. However, the potential role and the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of PARP-1 on osteosarcoma (OS) cells have not been elucidated. In this study, the results showed that knockdown of PARP-1 resulted in decreased cell proliferation, increased cell apoptosis, and G(0)/G(1) phase arrest in U2OS cells. In addition, increased expression of active caspase 3 and Bax, but reduced Bcl-2, cyclin D1, and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) were observed in PARP-1 knockdown in U2OS cells. Moreover, knockdown of PARP-1 correlated with elevated chemosensitivity of U2OS cells to cisplatin through inactivation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that PARP-1 plays an important role in regulating OS growth, combining PARP-1 gene therapy with traditional chemotherapy, and may serve as a promising approach to OS therapy.