OBJECTIVE

This study aims to elucidate the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear transporter 2 (ARNT2) in cervical cancer (CC) and explore the potential mechanism by which ARNT2 promotes the progression of CC through the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)/Akt signaling pathway.

METHODS

Bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the expression level of ARNT2 in cancer and its correlation with cancer prognosis. Western Blot and immunohistochemistry staining were used to detect the expression of ARNT2 protein in CC tissues and cells. ARNT2 was knocked down in SiHa and HeLa cells, respectively. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and colony formation assay were used to detect changes in cell proliferation. Transwell assay and plate scratch assay were used to detect changes in cell migration and invasion. Western Blot assay was used to detect changes in the expression of PP2A/Akt signaling pathway after ARNT2 expression was downregulated. Finally, a CC xenograft tumor model was constructed to evaluate the effect of ARNT2 on SiHa cell tumorigenesis in vivo.

RESULTS

ARNT2 is highly expressed in tumor tissues and cell lines. ARNT2 knockdown can significantly inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of SiHa and HeLa cells in vitro and in xenograft models. Further studies have shown that ARNT2 may promote tumor formation by regulating the PP2A/Akt pathway.

CONCLUSION

ARNT2 promotes the malignant biological behavior of CC cells through the PP2A/Akt signaling pathway, confirming its potential as a prognostic marker for CC.