title: Emodin inhibits the growth of hepatoma cells: finding the common anti-cancer pathway using Huh7, Hep3B, and HepG2 cells.
abstract: Emodin--a major component of Rheum palmatum L.-exerts antiproliferative effects in cancer cells that are regulated by different signaling pathways. Hepatocellular carcinoma has high-incidence rates and is associated with poor prognosis and high mortality rates. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of emodin on human hepatocarcinoma cell viability and investigate its mechanisms of action in Huh7, Hep3B, and HepG2 cells. To define the molecular changes associated with this process, expression profiles were compared in emodin-treated hepatoma cells by cDNA microarray hybridization, quantitative RT-PCRs, and Western blot analysis. G2/M phase arrest was observed in all 3 cell lines. Cell cycle regulatory gene analysis showed increased protein levels of cyclin A, cyclin B, Chk2, Cdk2, and P27 in hepatoma cells after time courses of emodin treatment, and Western blot analysis showed decreased protein levels of Cdc25c and P21. Microarray expression profile data and quantitative PCR revealed that 15 representative genes were associated with emodin treatment response in hepatoma cell lines. The RNA expression levels of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, GDF15, SERPINE1, SOS1, RASD1, and MRAS were upregulated and those of NR1H4, PALMD, and TXNIP were downregulated in all three hepatoma cells. Moreover, at 6h after emodin treatment, the levels of GDF15, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and CYR61 were upregulated. Here, we show that emodin treatment caused G2/M arrest in liver cancer cells and increased the expression levels of various genes both in mRNA and protein level. It is likely that these genes act as biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, and Genetic Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Mu
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yu-An
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yuhsin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Fa-Kuen
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.forename: Su-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Fuu-Jen
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004642:Emodin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D004642:Emodin