Increased Expression of eEF1A2 and PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway Genes Promotes The Progression of Cervical Cancer

Abstract Objective: This study sought to explore the mRNA and protein expression levels of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 2 (eEF1A2) and members of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in the context of cervical cancer. We sought to clarify the expression of eEF1A2, PI3K, Akt during cervical cancer tumorigenesis and development.Methods: Samples from 72 cases of cervical cancer were collected, as well as 46 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), which reflects the continuous process of cervical cancer development, divided into CIN I, CIN II, CIN III, and 40 cases of chronic cervicitis. qRT-PCR was to detect the mRNA levels of eEF1A2, PI3K, and Akt, with β-actin used as an internal control. eEF1A2, PI3K, p-Akt protein levels in cervical cancer, CIN, and chronic cervicitis tissues were detected by immunohistochemical. eEF1A2, PI3K and p-Akt protein expression levels in HeLa, SiHa, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were detected by western blot.Results: qRT-PCR results showed that the level of mRNA expression of eEF1A2, PI3K, and Akt was higher in cervical cancer tissues than that in normal cervical tissues. Immunohistochemistry results showed that the eEF1A2, PI3K, and p-Akt protein levels were higher in cervical cancer tissues than in cervical chronic cervicitis tissues. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The expression of eEF1A2, PI3K, and p-Akt protein was higher in HeLa and SiHa cervical cell lines than that in normal epithelial cells.Conclusion: Together, these results suggest that the aberrant expression of eEF1A2, PI3K, and Akt may play a role in cervical cancer development and tumorigenesis.