Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) expression and clinicopathological characteristics of cervical cancer and to explore the influence of Foxp3 on the biological behaviors of cervical cancer cells.
Methods: In this study, immunohistochemistry, lentivirus mediated transfection, Transwell assay; CCK-8 assay, real-time PCR and flow cytometry were employed to confirm the roles of Foxp3 in the occurrence and development of cervical cancer.
Results: Foxp3 and p16(INK4a) were highly expressed in the cervical cancer and their expressions were related to the FIGO stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis and serum SCC. Foxp3 had a high expression in the cervical cancer cells, tumor interstitium and metastatic lymph nodes. Foxp3 expression was positively related to p16(INK4a) expression in the cervical cancer. Foxp3 expression in the cervical cancer was negatively related to the prognosis: high Foxp3 expression predicted a poor prognosis. Silencing of Foxp3 was able to inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of cervical cancer cells, promote their apoptosis, and induce the change in cell cycle. Silencing of Foxp3 also reduced the mRNA and protein expressions of p16(INK4a) in cervical cancer cells.
Conclusion: Foxp3 is highly expressed in the cervical cancer, and able to facilitate the proliferation and invasiveness of cervical cancer, change cell cycle and inhibit their apoptosis, resulting in the occurrence, development and metastasis of cervical cancer.
Keywords: Cervical cancer; Foxp3; cell apoptosis; human papillomavirus; p16INK4a; regulatory T cells.