Emodin, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase, possesses antiviral, immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. In the present study, we investigated the effect of emodin on the hyaluronic acid (HA)-induced invasion of human glioma cells. Emodin significantly inhibited the HA-induced invasion through a Matrigel coated chamber, secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and HA-induced secretion of MMP-9 in glioma cells. To investigate the possible mechanisms involved in these events, we performed Western blot analysis using phospho-specific antibodies, and found that emodin inhibited phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 and Akt/PKB; emodin also suppressed the transcriptional activity of two transcription factors, activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), in glioma cells. In addition, oral administration of emodin suppressed in vivo MMP secretion by glioma tumors in nude mice. Taken together, our results indicate that emodin can effectively inhibit HA-induced MMP secretion and invasion of glioma through inhibition of FAK, ERK1/2 and Akt/PKB activation and partial inhibition of AP-1 and NF-κB transcriptional activities. Consequently, these results provide important insights into emodin as an anti-invasive agent for the therapy of human glioma.

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