PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - DONG-QING XU
AU  - XIAO-JUN YUAN
AU  - MASAHIRO HIRAYAMA
AU  - HIDEMI TOYODA
TI  - Huaier Extract Induces Apoptosis in Hepatoblastoma Cells <em>Via</em> the MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway
AID  - 10.21873/invivo.12051
DP  - 2020 Sep 01
TA  - In Vivo
PG  - 2381--2388
VI  - 34
IP  - 5
4099  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/5/2381.short
4100  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/5/2381.full
SO  - In Vivo2020 Sep 01; 34
AB  - Background/Aim: Huaier extract, whose main active constituent is the proteoglycan, has anti-tumor activity in several types of malignancies. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of Huaier extract in hepatoblastoma cells. Materials and Methods: The effect of Huaier extract on the proliferation of human hepatoblastoma cell lines HepG2 and HuH-6, was examined. Results: Incubation with Huaier extract resulted in a marked, dose-dependent decrease in hepatoblastoma cell viability. Huaier extract induced S phase arrest in hepatoblastoma cells and upregulated the expression of the cell cycle related proteins cyclin D1 and cyclin D3. It also induced apoptosis in hepatoblastoma cells. Additionally, it significantly suppressed the activity of p-ERK and p-MEK. Conclusion: Huaier extract inhibits proliferation, and induces cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via the MEK-ERK pathway in hepatoblastoma cells. Huaier extract may act as a complementary agent for treating hepatoblastoma.