Sophocarpine Inhibits Proliferation of Osteosarcoma Cells through HTR3A

doi:10.3870/j.issn.1672-8009.2026.01.008

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To analyze and verify the mechanism of sophocarpine in inhibiting osteosarcoma cells through network pharmacology and in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods The targets of sophocarpine were predicted by network pharmacology.The relationship between 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A(HTR3A)and prognosis of osteosarcoma was analyzed by bioinformatics.HTR3A was knocked down in osteosarcoma cell lines U2OS and MG63,and its effects on cell proliferation,colony formation,apoptosis,and the expression levles of cell cycle-related proteins were detected.The inhibitory effects of sophocarpine on the growth of osteosarcoma cells and transplanted tumors were observed by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results HTR3A was predicted as a key target of sophocarpine,and its high expression level was associated with poor prognosis in patients with osteosarcoma(log-rank P<0.05,P<0.05).HTR3A was highly expressed in osteosarcoma cells,and knockdown of HTR3A inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation,and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis(P<0.05).Sophocarpine effectively inhibited the growth of osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo(P<0.05),and the HTR3A protein expression level was decreased after sophocarpine treatment in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05).Moreover,overexpression of HTR3A reversed the inhibitory effect of sophocarpine on cell proliferation(P<0.05). Conclusion Sophocarpine can inhibit the proliferation and colony formation and promote apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells by inhibiting the expression of HTR3A.HTR3A is a potential key target for sophocarpine to exert anti-tumor effect in osteosarcoma.

Key words: sophocarpine, osteosarcoma cells, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A, cell proliferation, network pharmacology

CLC Number:

R738.1

LI Xiaowen, ZHAO Jie, JIANG Liqiang, ZHANG Kai, JIA Haidong, ZHANG Cun. Sophocarpine Inhibits Proliferation of Osteosarcoma Cells through HTR3A[J]. Journal of Medical Molecular Biology, 2026, 23(1): 60-66.

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