title: Huaier aqueous extract inhibits cervical cancer cell proliferation via JNK/p38 pathway.
abstract: Although the anticancer effects of Huaier extract have been widely investigated, including anti-proliferate, anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic activities, the mechanisms are not well understood. This study aimed to elucidate the inhibitory effect of Huaier extract on tumor growth in cervical cancer cells and its molecular mechanisms. Cell viability and motility were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony assays, migration, and invasive assays, respectively. The distribution of the cell cycle was analyzed by ﬂow cytometry. Huaier inhibited cell viability of SiHa and C33A cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner; cell migration and invasiveness were also suppressed; Huaier was able to cause G2/M cell cycle arrest in C33A cells. The western blot results confirmed Huaier dose-dependently increased expression of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p-38 and downregulated the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in a time- and dose-dependently manner. In vivo experiments showed that Huaier significantly suppressed the tumor volume of SiHa cell xenografts. These data suggest that Huaier may inhibit tumor proliferation in cervical cancer via the JNK/p38 signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Aijun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qifeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Beihua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts