Inhibition of Notch pathway prevents osteosarcoma growth by cell cycle regulation

Br J Cancer. 2009 Jun 16;100(12):1957-65. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605060. Epub 2009 May 19.

Abstract

The study shows constitutive activation of the Notch pathway in various types of malignancies. However, it remains unclear how the Notch pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma. We investigated the expression of the Notch pathway molecules in osteosarcoma biopsy specimens and examined the effect of Notch pathway inhibition. Real-time PCR revealed overexpression of Notch2, Jagged1, HEY1, and HEY2. On the other hand, Notch1 and DLL1 were downregulated in biopsy specimens. Notch pathway inhibition using gamma-secretase inhibitor and CBF1 siRNA slowed the growth of osteosarcomas in vitro. In addition, gamma-secretase inhibitor-treated xenograft models exhibited significantly slower osteosarcoma growth. Cell cycle analysis revealed that gamma-secretase inhibitor promoted G1 arrest. Real-time PCR and western blot revealed that gamma-secretase inhibitor reduced the expression of accelerators of the cell cycle, including cyclin D1, cyclin E1, E2, and SKP2. On the other hand, p21(cip1) protein, a cell cycle suppressor, was upregulated by gamma-secretase inhibitor treatment. These findings suggest that inhibition of Notch pathway suppresses osteosarcoma growth by regulation of cell cycle regulator expression and that the inactivation of the Notch pathway may be a useful approach to the treatment of patients with osteosarcoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / genetics
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma / pathology
  • Osteosarcoma / prevention & control*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Notch / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein
  • RBPJ protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases