Shizhi Wang

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) induces cervical injury and promotes malignant transformation of cervical epithelial cells

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a widespread phthalate with reproductive toxicity and potential carcinogenicity, its cervical effects remain unclear. This study explored DBP's cervical toxicity and mechanisms via epidemiological analysis, network toxicology, and in vivo/in vitro models. Urinary 6 phthalate metabolites in 104 cervical cancer (CC) patients and 104 controls (detected by UPLC-MS/MS) showed elevated levels of MBP, MEHP, MEOHP, MEHHP, MECPP, and ΣDEHP in CC patients; MBP had the strongest CC risk association (adjusted OR = 2.54, P < 0.001). Network toxicology identified 9 core targets of DBP (e.g., CASP3, MAPK8/14, ESR1) and key pathways involved (TNF, MAPK, apoptosis, oxidative stress, etc.). Short-term DBP exposure (mice: 10-50 mg/kg/day; HcerEpic cells: 100-400 μM) induced cervical injury/oxidative stress, suppressed NRF2, and activated MAPK/NF-κB; N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation mitigated damages. Long-term exposure to environmentally relevant DBP concentrations (10

The Multiomics Landscape of Plasma-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles during the Development of HPV+ Cervical Cancer

The transition from HPV infection to cervical cancer (CC) remains unclear, especially concerning small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). We analyzed plasma-sEVs from HPV-negative individuals (HPVN-sEVs), HPV-positive individuals (HPVP-sEVs), and HPV-positive CC patients (HPVC-sEVs) via proteomics (n = 5/5/9) and transcriptomics (n = 3/3/4). Multiomics revealed HPVP-sEVs harbor antiviral and pro-inflammatory signals early in infection, whereas HPVC-sEVs shift toward immunosuppression to sustain persistent infection. Specifically, IFITM2─an antiviral gene─was markedly enriched in HPVP-sEVs versus HPVN-sEVs (

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of CARMN and its anti-tumor function in cervical cancer through autophagic flux blockade and MAPK cascade inhibition

Abstract Background LncRNAs play essential roles in multiple tumors. However, research on genome-wide lncRNA alterations and their functions in cervical cancer (CC) is limited. This study aims to explore key lncRNAs in CC progression and uncover the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of CC. Methods In this study, we analyzed 30 tissues from CC, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and normal (NOR) using transcriptome sequencing and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to establish gene modules related to the NOR-CIN-CC transition. Machine learning diagnostic models were employed to investigate the role of lncRNAs in this transition. Molecular biological experiments were conducted to elucidate the potential mechanisms of CARMN in CC, with a particular focus on its transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of abnormal expression in CC. Results CARMN was identified as a hub gene in two modules significantly associated with the NOR-CIN-CC transition. Analysis using ten machine learning models confirmed its critical role in this progression. The results of RNA-seq, qPCR and RNAScope performed in another cohort of 83 cervical tissues all showed that CARMN was significantly downregulated in CC. CARMN significantly enhanced the interaction between Keap1 and Nrf2, leading to increased ROS levels. The elevated ROS levels suppressed the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, leading to autophagy arrest via autophagic flux blockade. Additionally, CARMN interacted with TFAP2α to repress MAPK13 transcription, further inhibiting the MAPK cascade. A promoter SNP (rs12517403) was found to increase CC risk (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.11–1.61) and reduce CARMN expression by decreasing SP1 binding. Furthermore, the RNA binding proteins that could modulate CARMN RNA stability were also determined using RNA-pulldown assay. The results demonstrated that YBX1, a component of the coding region instability determinant (CRD)-mediated mRNA stabilization complex, promoted CARMN RNA stability. DHX9, another component of complex, acted as a scaffold to bridge YBX1 and CARMN. Conclusions CARMN exerts an anti-cancer effect in CC progression by inhibiting the Akt-mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. rs12517403 and the YBX1/DHX9 complex are key mechanisms influencing its transcription and stability in CC cells. CARMN represents a promising biomarker for CC diagnosis and therapeutic target.

A genetic variant in the TAPBP gene enhances cervical cancer susceptibility by increasing m6A modification

Genetic variants can affect gene expression by altering the level of N6-methyladenosine (m

A comprehensive review of m 6 A research in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) remains one of the most common malignancies among women worldwide, posing a serious threat to women's health. N6-methyladenosine (m

Identification of an immune signature to predict poor clinical outcome in cervical cancer