The role of calgranulin B gene on the biological behavior of squamous cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo

Wenwen Zhang, Miaomiao Chen, Huihui Cheng, Qi Shen, Ying Wang, Xueqiong Zhu Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China Objective: The objective of the study was to explore the role of calgranulin B gene on the biological behavior of squamous cervical cancer. Methods: Differential transcription in calgranulin B gene between human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and negative cervical cancer groups was identified, and the relationship between calgranulin B gene and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes were explored using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Subsequently, the role of calgranulin B on the cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration was investigated, through overexpression and/or underexpression of calgranulin B in cervical cancer cells. In addition, the effect of calgranulin B on the growth of the cervical cancer was studied via constructing xenograft model in BALB/c nude mice that either overexpressed or underexpressed calgranulin B. Results: Calgranulin B gene transcription in cervical cancer was highly correlated with the high-risk HPV-16 and HPV-45. In addition, overexpression of calgranulin B increased cell proliferation, invasion and migration, whereas it did not significantly affect cell apoptosis. This effect was also confirmed by calgranulin B knockdown assay. Additionally, we found that the transcription of calgranulin B gene was negatively correlated with MMP15 and MMP24 genes, but positively associated with MMP25 genes in cervical cancer. Furthermore, calgranulin B significantly promoted the growth of cervical cancer in vivo. Conclusion: Calgranulin B promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion of squamous cervical cancer, possibly via regulation of MMPs. Whether there are synergistic actions between calgranulin B and HPV-16/HPV-45 infection on the squamous cervical carcinogenesis or progression need further study. Keywords: calgranulin B, cervical cancer, proliferation, migration, invasion