Knockdown AHNAK2 inhibits the progression of gastric cancer via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

PurposeAHNAK2 has been reported as tumor promoting protein by mediating tumor cell invasion and metastasis in a variety of malignancies, but the role of AHNAK2 in GC is indistinct. MethodsImmunohistochemistry(IHC)was used to verify in GC tissues, clinical and pathological files were collected to figure out the correlation of AHNAK2 and prognosis in GC patients. GC cell lines were cultured to detect the expression and location of AHNAK2 by westernblot and immunofluorescence. Knockdown AHNAK2 to observe the invasion and metastasis of GC cell. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to explore the potential regulatory mechanism of AHNAK2. ResultsIHC results shows that AHNAK2 is upregulated in GC patients compared to normal people, overall survival in highly expressed AHNAK2 is poor,and AHNAK2 expression was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis. The expression of AHNAK2 in tumor cells is higher than in normal cell. Knockdown AHNAK2 decreased the proliferation, invasion, migration ability of GC cells, and increased cell apoptosis. Transcriptome sequencing reveals that AHNAK2 mediates GC progression by regulating Wnt/{beta}-catenin axis. ConclusionOur findings suggest that AHNAK2 may promote the progression of GC by regulating Wnt/{beta}-catenin signaling pathway.