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Research: VALENTI and COLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 218
Abstract
VALENTI and COLLEAGUES, Department of Medicine, Clinic of Internal Medicine, section D, University of Verona, Piazzale Scuro, 10, 37134 Verona, Italy investigated the effect of ascorbic acid (AsA) [vitamin C] on osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis of the MG-63 osteosarcoma cell line luca.dallecarbonare@univr.it
Background
Osteosarcoma originates from mesenchymal stem cells with impaired bone differentiation. In the present study we investigated the effect of ascorbic acid (AsA) on osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis of the MG-63 osteosarcoma cell line.
Methodology
The authors evaluated the expression of runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2) and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) genes by real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and of endogenous bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) and osteocalcin proteins by immunohistochemistry. They analyzed osteoblast maturation by phosphatase alkaline synthesis and calcium deposition, and apoptosis by (TUNEL) test and Annexin staining.
Results
Results showed that RUNX2 and SPP1 gene expression was increased in cells treated with low concentrations of AsA with respect to untreated cells. At higher concentrations, AsA induced apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells, possibly with the involvement of p21.
Conclusion
Our findings support the ability of AsA to induce both differentiation, by affecting the target involved in early and late phases of osteogenic maturation, and apoptosis in poorly-differentiated osteosarcoma cells.
References
Valenti MT(1), Zanatta M, Donatelli L, Viviano G, Cavallini C, Scupoli MT, Dalle;; Carbonare L. Ascorbic acid induces either differentiation or apoptosis in MG-63 osteosarcoma; lineage. Anticancer Res. 34(4):1617-27. Apr 2014.
Comment
That ascorbic acid (AsA) vitamin C induces differentiation of osteogenic cells and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells with higher concentrations is an important finding; if these results in osteosarcoma cell line cells are reproducible in people, it could provide an important therapeutic intervention in the treatment of cancer using ascorbic acid (AsA) – vitamin C.
