MAPK1 and Hyperglycemia: Rhein could inhibit autophagy by regulating AMPK-dependent mTOR signaling pathways and Erk and p38 MAPK signaling pathway (Tu et al., 2017); it protects pancreatic β-cells against apoptosis by blocking hyperglycemia-induced dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) expression and stabilizing mitochondrial morphology (Liu et al., 2013).