PXMP4 activates the ERK1/2 signaling pathway to promote proliferation,migra-tion,and invasion of cervical cancer cells
10.13315/j.cnki.cjcep.2025.11.006
- VernacularTitle:PXMP4激活ERK1/2信号通路促进子宫颈癌细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭
- Author:
Zhidan WAN
1
;
Zishan XU
;
Wei LI
;
Na LIU
;
Jianqiang WANG
;
Guoyang HE
Author Information
1. 新乡医学院基础医学院病理学系,新乡 453003;山东省泰安市中心医院病理科,泰安 271200
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
cervical neoplasms;
PXMP4;
extracellular signal-regulated kinase;
migration;
invasion;
epithelial-mesen-chymal transition
- From:
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology
2025;41(11):1436-1445
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Purpose This study aims to explore the effect of peroxisomal membrane protein 4(PXMP4)on the migration and invasion of cervical cancer(CC)cells,as well as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)process.Methods Bioinformatics and immunohistochemical analysis were employed to examine the expression of PXMP4 in CC tissues and its correlation with clinical pathological characteristics.Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of PXMP4 in CC cells.CCK-8 assay,scratch healing assay,and Transwell invasion assay were utilized to assess the proliferation,migration,and invasion capabilities of CC cells.Western blot was conducted to measure the expression of N-cadherin,E-cadherin,vimentin,phosphorylated ERK(p-ERK),and total ERK proteins in cervical CC.Results The TCGA database showed that the mRNA expression level of PXMP4 was significantly elevated in non-paired CC tissues(P=0.000 29),while the GEO database showed that the mRNA expression level of PXMP4 was sig-nificantly elevated in paired CC tissues(P=0.02).Immunohistochemical analysis showed that PXMP4 was primarily localized in the cytoplasm and cell membrane,with a positive rate of 70.31％(45/64)in CC tissues,significantly higher than 29.69％(19/64)in adjacent tissues.Clinical pathological analysis found that PXMP4 expression was as-sociated with maximum tumor differentiation(P=0.000 328)and lymph node metastasis(P=0.000 226),but not with age(P=0.637)or tumor diameter(P=0.304).CCK-8 assay,wound healing assay,and Transwell invasion as-say demonstrated that interference with PXMP4 inhibited the proliferation,invasion,and migration of CC cells,while overexpression of PXMP4 promoted these processes.Western blot results indicated that interference with PXMP4 signif-icantly increased E-cadherin expression and decreased N-cadherin,vimentin,and p-ERK expression(P＜0.05).Conversely,overexpression of PXMP4 led to a significant decrease in E-cadherin and an increase in N-cadherin,vim-entin,and p-ERK expression(P＜0.05).Additionally,stimulation of CC cells with different concentrations of the U0126 inhibitor significantly increased E-cadherin expression and decreased N-cadherin,vimentin,and p-ERK expres-sion(P＜0.05).Conclusion PXMP4 is highly expressed in CC tissues and is closely related to tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis.PXMP4 promotes the EMT process of CC cells through the phosphorylated ERK1/2 signa-ling pathway.
