Evaluating anticancer activity of emodin by enhancing antioxidant activities and affecting PKC/ADAMTS4 pathway in thioacetamide-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats
- PMID: 38861483
- PMCID: PMC11168332
- DOI: 10.1080/13510002.2024.2365590
Evaluating anticancer activity of emodin by enhancing antioxidant activities and affecting PKC/ADAMTS4 pathway in thioacetamide-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats
Abstract
Emodin is a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative with a wide range of pharmacological activities, including neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. We aim to assess the anticancer activity of emodin against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rat models using the proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis biomarkers. After induction of HCC, assessment of the liver impairment and the histopathology of liver sections were investigated. Hepatic expression of both mRNA and protein of the oxidative stress biomarkers, HO-1, Nrf2; the mitogenic activation biomarkers, ERK5, PKCδ; the tissue destruction biomarker, ADAMTS4; the tissue homeostasis biomarker, aggregan; the cellular fibrinolytic biomarker, MMP3; and of the cellular angiogenesis biomarker, VEGF were measured. Emodin increased the survival percentage and reduced the number of hepatic nodules compared to the HCC group. Besides, emodin reduced the elevated expression of both mRNA and proteins of all PKC, ERK5, ADAMTS4, MMP3, and VEGF compared with the HCC group. On the other hand, emodin increased the expression of mRNA and proteins of Nrf2, HO-1, and aggrecan compared with the HCC group. Therefore, emodin is a promising anticancer agent against HCC preventing the cancer prognosis and infiltration. It works through many mechanisms of action, such as blocking oxidative stress, proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis.
Keywords: ADAMTS4; Aggrecan; Angiogenesis; ERK5; HO-1; MMP3; Nrf2; PKCδ; VEGF; emodin; hepatocellular carcinoma.
Conflict of interest statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Figures
![Figure 1.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/11168332/bin/YRER_A_2365590_F0001_OC.gif)
![Figure 2.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/11168332/bin/YRER_A_2365590_F0002_OB.gif)
![Figure 3.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/11168332/bin/YRER_A_2365590_F0003_OB.gif)
![Figure 4.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/11168332/bin/YRER_A_2365590_F0004_OC.gif)
![Figure 5.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/11168332/bin/YRER_A_2365590_F0005_OC.gif)
![Figure 6.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/11168332/bin/YRER_A_2365590_F0006_OB.gif)
![Figure 7.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/11168332/bin/YRER_A_2365590_F0007_OC.gif)
![Figure 8.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/11168332/bin/YRER_A_2365590_F0008_OB.gif)
![Figure 9.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/11168332/bin/YRER_A_2365590_F0009_OB.gif)
Similar articles
-
The potential chemotherapeutic effect of β-ionone and/or sorafenib against hepatocellular carcinoma via its antioxidant effect, PPAR-γ, FOXO-1, Ki-67, Bax, and Bcl-2 signaling pathways.Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2020 Sep;393(9):1611-1624. doi: 10.1007/s00210-020-01863-9. Epub 2020 Apr 8. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2020. PMID: 32270258
-
Targeting p53/TRAIL/caspase-8 signaling by adiponectin reverses thioacetamide-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2019 Nov;72:103240. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2019.103240. Epub 2019 Aug 7. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2019. PMID: 31421311
-
Updates on the hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met axis in hepatocellular carcinoma and its therapeutic implications.World J Gastroenterol. 2018 Sep 7;24(33):3695-3708. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i33.3695. World J Gastroenterol. 2018. PMID: 30197476 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Human hepatocellular carcinoma: Protection by melatonin.J Cell Physiol. 2018 Oct;233(10):6486-6508. doi: 10.1002/jcp.26586. Epub 2018 Apr 19. J Cell Physiol. 2018. PMID: 29672851 Review.
-
Emodin inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma model by blocking activation of STAT3.Br J Pharmacol. 2013 Oct;170(4):807-21. doi: 10.1111/bph.12302. Br J Pharmacol. 2013. PMID: 23848338 Free PMC article.
References
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Miscellaneous