ABSTARCT:Objective To investigate the effects of the transcription factor SRY-related high-mobility-group box 2 (Sox2)related to stem cells on the invasion and migration of cervical squamous carcinoma cell line SiHa and its mechanism.Methods The expression of Sox2 was detected in Sox2 stably over-expressed cell line SiHa-Sox2 and negative control SiHa-EGFP cells by RT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively.The effects of Sox2 on the invasion and migration capacities of SiHa cells were detected by wound-healing assay and transwell assay.The expression of β-catenin was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with that of SiHa-EGFP cells,the expression of Sox2 at both mRNA and protein levels was obviously upregulated in SiHa-Sox2 cells.The migration and invasion capacities of SiHa-Sox2 cells were increased significantly (P <0.01 ),and the expression of β-catenin increased dramatically compared with that of the control cells.Conclusion Sox2 promotes the invasion and migration capacities of SiHa cells by increasing the expression of β-catenin and activating Wnt signaling pathway, which contributes to the development of cervical cancer.