Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
11:44

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

Rhein lysinate inhibits cell growth by modulating various mitogen-activated protein kinases in cervical cancer cells

Yong-Zhan Zhen1, Ya-Jun Lin, Jun-Ling Gao

  • 1North China Coal Medical University, Tangshan, Hebei 063000.

Oncology Letters
|August 8, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Rhein lysinate (RHL) effectively inhibits human cervical cancer (HeLa) cell growth and induces apoptosis. RHL activates specific cell signaling pathways, showing potential as a cervical cancer therapeutic.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Rhein lysinate (RHL), a water-soluble salt of rhein and lysine, has demonstrated anti-tumor properties against various cancers.
  • Previous research indicated RHL's efficacy in inhibiting breast, ovarian, and liver cancer cell growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the anti-proliferative effects of RHL on human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for RHL-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • HeLa cells were treated with varying doses and durations of RHL.
  • Apoptosis was assessed by measuring cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3/7 levels.
  • Key signaling pathways, including p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • RHL significantly inhibited HeLa cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
  • RHL induced apoptosis in HeLa cells, evidenced by increased cleaved PARP and caspase-3/7.
  • RHL-induced apoptosis was mediated by the activation of p38 MAPK and JNK, while ERK activation was increased, and its inhibition enhanced RHL's effect.

Conclusions:

  • Rhein lysinate exhibits potent anti-cancer activity against human cervical carcinoma cells.
  • RHL triggers apoptosis through the activation of p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways.
  • RHL represents a promising candidate for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents for cervical cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics06:00

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics

Published on: May 14, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Inhibition of CDK Activity02:34

Inhibition of CDK Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.