Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharides Regulating Ferroptosis and Inhibiting Malignant Progression of Ovarian Cancer Cells

ABSTRACT Objective Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most prevalent cause of death among gynecologic malignancies. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) possess antitumor activity in OC. We explored the mechanism of APS regulating ferroptosis and malignant progression of ovarian cancer cells (OCCs) via the MAPK/ERK pathway. Methods A2780 OCCs were cultured in vitro and initially treated with varying concentrations of APS (0, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 µg/mL) for 24 h. The 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was assessed to establish a dose–response curve, and the IC50 value (121.7 µg/mL) was calculated to determine the optimal concentration of APS for subsequent experiments. A2780 OCCs were treated with APS, a ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin‐1, and the MAPK/ERK pathway activator C16‐PAF for 24 h. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were assessed by CCK‐8, Transwell, and wound healing assays. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE), and Fe 2+ in cells, the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and phosphorylated (p)‐ERK1/2, ERK1/2, and GPX4 proteins were determined using kits and Western blot. Results APS treatment suppressed expression levels of p‐ERK1/2, ERK1/2, and GPX4 proteins, increased ROS, MDA, and Fe 2+ in the cells, as well as LDH release, promoted ferroptosis, and repressed invasion, proliferation, and migration. Further treatment with ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin‐1 upregulated GPX4 protein level, diminished LDH release and MDA, ROS, and Fe 2+ levels in OCC, and enhanced cell malignant biological behaviors. APS promoted OCC ferroptosis by inactivating the MAPK/ERK pathway. The MAPK/ERK pathway activation partially reversed APS‐induced suppression on OCC malignant biological behaviors. Conclusion APS intensified OCC ferroptosis by repressing the MAPK/ERK pathway and abated cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, thereby limiting malignant progression.