Aloe-emodin suppresses esophageal cancer cell TE1 proliferation by inhibiting AKT and ERK phosphorylation

Xiaobin Chang, Jimin Zhao, Fang Tian, Yanan Jiang, Jing Lu, Junfen Ma, Xiaoyan Zhang, Guoguo Jin, Youtian Huang, Zigang Dong, Kangdong Liu, Ziming Dong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aberrant AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation is often observed in various human cancers. Both AKT and ERK are important in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/ERK signaling pathways, which play vital roles in cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. Compounds that are able to block these pathways have therefore a promising use in cancer treatment and prevention. The present study revealed that AKT and ERK are activated in esophageal cancer TE1 cells. Aloe-emodin, an anthraquinone present in aloe latex, can suppress TE1 cell proliferation and anchor-independent cell growth. Aloe-emodin can also reduce the number of TE1 cells in S phase. Protein analysis indicated that aloe-emodin inhibits the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, the present data indicate that aloe-emodin can suppress TE1 cell growth by inhibiting AKT and ERK phosphorylation, and suggest its clinical use for cancer therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2232-2238
Number of pages7
JournalOncology Letters
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Aloe-emodin
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Signal transduction pathway

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