Boric Acid Suppresses Glioblastoma Cellular Survival by Regulating Ferroptosis via SOX10/GPx4/ACSL4 Signalling and Iron Metabolism

Abstract

Ferroptosis, a distinct form of regulated cell death, plays a role in glioma pathogenesis. SRY-box (SOX) transcription factors are key regulators of cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the role of SOX10 in ferroptosis induction in U87 cells following boric acid treatment. First, the cytotoxic effects of boric acid on HMC3 and U87 cells were assessed using CCK8 and BrdU incorporation assays. Subsequently, SOX10, GPX4, ACSL4, GSH, MDA, total ROS, Fe²⁺, and TFR levels were analysed using ELISA, Western blot, and RT-PCR techniques. Additionally, DAPI staining was performed to evaluate nuclear abnormalities. According to the CCK8 analysis, the IC50 value for boric acid was determined to be 3.12 mM for HMC3 cells and 532 μM for U87 cells, a finding further supported by BrdU incorporation analysis, which indicated that U87 cells were more sensitive to boric acid. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that SOX10 expression was significantly higher in U87 cells compared to HMC3 cells. Boric acid treatment led to a reduction in GSH, GPX4, and SOX10 levels in U87 cells, while inducing an increase in MDA, total ROS, ACSL4, Fe²⁺, and TFR levels. Moreover, microscopic analysis demonstrated that boric acid treatment induced both morphological and nuclear abnormalities in U87 cells. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that SOX10 is involved in the ferroptosis signalling pathway and that boric acid effectively suppresses U87 cell viability by targeting the SOX10/GPX4/ACSL4 axis.