[G6PC knockdown blocks AKT/mTOR pathway to inhibit proliferation, invasion and migration of cervical cancer HeLa cells].

Objective To explore the effect of glucose-6-phsophatase, catalytic subunit (G6PC) on the proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer HeLa cells and the possible molecular mechanism. Methods RNA interfering (RNAi) was used to knockdown the expression of G6PC in HeLa cells, and the silencing effect of protein was confirmed by Western blotting. MTT assay and plate clony formation assay were performed to detect the effect of G6PC knockdown on the proliferation of HeLa cells; scratch healing assay and Transwell chamber assay were applied to observe the effect of G6PC knockdown on the invasion and migration abilities of HeLa cells; the tube-formation assay was used to detect the effect of G6PC knockdown on the angiogenesis ability of HeLa cells; the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins and AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins were determined by Western blotting. Results The expression of G6PC was effectively silenced by RNAi technology. G6PC knockdown obviously inhibited the proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of HeLa cells. Meanwhile, G6PC knockdown suppressed the EMT process, the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR proteins. Conclusion G6PC knockdown can effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and EMT process of HeLa cells, which is related to the blocked AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.