Propofol suppresses invasion and induces apoptosis of osteosarcoma cell in vitro via downregulation of TGF-beta 1 expression

OBJECTIVE: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant tumor of the bone, with a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. Propofol has been proposed to play a role of antitumor in various cancers. However, the functions and mechanisms of propofol in OS is still not clear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The different concentrations of propofol were co-incubated with osteosarcoma MG-63 lines for 72 hrs. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion were detected by MTT assay, Flow cytometry analysis, and Matrigel invasion assay. Western blot was used to detect the TGF-beta 1 protein levels. MG-63 cells were treated with human recombinant TGF-beta 1 (rh TGF-beta 1) to assess the role of TGF-beta 1 in propofol-induced anti-tumor activity. RESULTS: Propofol significantly inhibited cell proliferation and invasion and promoted apoptosis of MG-63 lines cells. Propofol also efficiently reduced TGF-beta 1 expression. Moreover, restoration of TGF-beta 1 by rhTGF-beta 1 treatment reversed the effects of propofol on the biological behavior of OS cells. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol can effectively inhibit proliferation and invasion and induce apoptosis of OS cells through, at least partly, downregulation of TGF-beta 1 expression.