Tizanidine hydrochloride exhibits a cytotoxic effect on osteosarcoma cells through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Abstract Objectives: α2-adrenergic receptors are reportedly involved in cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis through regulation of diverse molecules, which implies that it contributes to tumor progression. However, the functional significance of α2-adrenergic receptors in osteosarcoma (OS) is unclear. Tizanidine hydrochloride (THC), an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, is often used to alleviate symptoms of spasticity. This study investigated the functional implications of THC treatment on human OS cells and the underlying mechanisms of resulting changes. Methods: The proliferation of U2 OS