Twist-1 Stimulates the Malignant Behaviors of Hydatidiform Mole via the PI3K/AKT Pathway
Hydatidiform mole (HM) is a common pregnancy disease among women of gestational age. Twist-related protein 1 (Twist-1) is involved in the development of various tumors, but its role in HM is poorly defined. This study aimed to explore Twist-1 expression and its biological function in HM cells. Twist-1 expression in HM was detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The effects of silencing Twist-1 on choriocarcinoma (CCA) cell proliferation were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and clone formation assays. CCA cell migration and invasion were detected through transwell assay. Western blot was used to detect epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway-related proteins. Twist-1 expression was upregulated in HM tissues ( Silencing Twist-1 inhibits the malignant behavior of CCA cells, which may play a part by inhibiting the EMT process and the PI3K/AKT pathway.