Study the thymoquinone -induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in the presence of methotrexate in Saos-2 bone cancer cell line

Abstract

Osteosarcoma (OS) as the most frequent primary bone malignancy in children and adolescents has short survival rate in advanced-stages. Alternative herbal medicines with fewer side effects or the potency to protect common therapy's side effects can be helpful in combinational therapies. Herein, we aim to explore the effects of Thymoquinone (TQ) combined with Methotrexate (MTX) on Saos-2 cells apoptosis. Methods The effects of TQ and MTX alone or in combination on Saos-2 cell viability were measured by MTT assay. Real time PCR was applied for the measurement of Bax, BCL-2, and Caspase-9 mRNA expression. Apoptosis evaluation was conducted by flow cytometry. Results TQ improves the cytotoxic effects of MTX on Saos-2 cells proliferation at lower doses. TQ and MTX can induce the expression level of pro-apoptotic factors, Bax and Caspase-9, while inhibit antiapoptotic protein BCL-2. Moreover, the combination of TQ and MTX potentiates apoptosis, compared to either TQ or MTX treated-cells.