Anti-tumor effect of aloe-emodin on cervical cancer cells was associated with human papillomavirus E6/E7 and glucose metabolism

Rui Gao,1,2 Xiaowen Wu,1,3 Zhi Huang,1,3 Bi Wang,1,4 Fenghu Li,5 Hui Xu,1,4 Li Ran51Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, The Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology in Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550002, People’s Republic of China; 2Guizhou International Travel Healthcare Center, Guiyang 550005, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Medical Imaging of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550002, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Paediatrics, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guiyang City, Guiyang 550003, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Breast and Gynecologic Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground：Aloe-emodin, an anthraquinone present in aloe latex, has been shown to have anti-proliferative properties in cervical cancer disease, all cases of which are almost caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), with the products of E6/E7. It is suggested that aloe-emodin may play an important role in HPV-induced cervical cancer cells.Methods：Hela and SiHa cells were treated with various concentrations of aloe-emodin. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to identify the cell growth and apoptosis. The expressions of HPV E6, E7 and GLUT1 (glucose transporter-1) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB). The glucose uptake, lactate production and ATP production in HeLa and SiHa cells were also investigated.Result：The results indicate that aloe-emodin promoted the apoptosis of HeLa and SiHa cells and decreased the expressions of HPV-related protein E6 and E7. Furthermore, aloe-emodin inhibited glucose metabolism by reducing GLUT1 expression. Overexpression of GLUT1 significantly weakened the apoptosis induced by aloe-emodin in HeLa cells.Conclusion：In this study, we found that aloe-emodin induce apoptosis of cervical cancer cells, which was associated with HPV E6 and E7 and glucose metabolism.Keywords: cervical cancer, aloe-emodin, E6/E7, glucose metabolism