Anthraquinone derivative emodin inhibits tumor-associated angiogenesis through inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation

An anthraquinone derivative, emodin, suppresses tumor development both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the anti-angiogenic activity of emodin and its modifying effect on the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. In cell cultures, emodin inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the mouse dorsal air sac assay revealed the vivo anti-angiogenic potential of emodin. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression, which is critical for the angiogenic process, including migration and tube formation, decreased after exposure to emodin, as determined by polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription (RT-PCR) and gelatin zymography. Moreover, the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 decreased after exposure to emodin in a dose-dependent manner. These observations suggest that emodin has the potential to inhibit several angiogenic processes and that these effects may be related to suppression of the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2.