HOXB4 inhibits the proliferation and tumorigenesis of cervical cancer cells by downregulating the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT: Homeobox B4 (HOXB4), which belongs to the homeobox (HOX) family, possesses transcription factor activity and has a crucial role in stem cell self-renewal and tumorigenesis. However, its biological function and exact mechanism in cervical cancer remain unknown. Here, we found that HOXB4 was markedly downregulated in cervical cancer. We demonstrated that HOXB4 obviously suppressed cervical cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenic potential in nude mice. Additionally, HOXB4-induced cell cycle arrest at the transition from the G0/G1 phase to the S phase. Conversely, loss of HOXB4 promoted cervical cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics analyses and mechanistic studies revealed that HOXB4 inhibited the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by direct transcriptio

SUBMITTER: Lei D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7820415 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature