Juglone induces GSDME axis pyroptosis in osteosarcoma cells via the JNK/P38 MAPK pathway.

The MAPK signaling pathway plays a considerable role in cancer inhibition, and pyroptosis is a type of programmed cell death (PCD); thus, it is essential for cellular activity and cancer progression. Juglone can inhibit the viability and motility of cancer cells, but it is unclear whether it can induce pyroptosis in cancer cells, and the corresponding regulatory mechanisms are not well understood. This study explored the in vitro effects of juglone on OS cells, further revealing its ability to induce pyroptosis via the caspase-3/GSDME pathway. Moreover, juglone can regulate the GSDME pathway to induce both pyroptosis and apoptosis through the JNK/p38 pathway. These findings suggest that juglone has potential as a therapeutic agent for osteosarcoma.