Experimental Study of Rhein Inhibits the Invasion and Migration of HepG2 Cells by ERK Signaling Pathway

 To investigate the effectiveness of Rhein on the proliferation, invasion and migration of human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and its possible mechanism.

 Human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was treated with different concentrations of Rhein (Rhein treatment group) and culture in culture medium alone (control group).The proliferation activity of the cells was determined by methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetry.Transwell assay detected the invasion and migration of cells in each group.Cell scratch test was used to detect the migration ability of cells in each group.Excella-phospho-excellar signal-regulated kinase (P-ERK) activity was determined by ELISA after treatment with 50μ mol/L Rhein at different times.Western blot was used to detect ERK protein expression in HepG2 cells treated with 50 μmol/L Rhein.

 Compared with the control group, the proliferation activity, invasion and migration ability of HepG2 cells in the Rhein treatment group were all decreased (P< 0.05), and the p-ERK relative activity of HepG2 cells treated with Rhein was decreased (P < 0.05).

 Rhein inhibits the invasion and migration of HCC cells, possibly by inhibiting the ERK pathway.