Role of Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Autophagy of Cervical Cells

doi:10.3870/j.issn.1672-8009.2026.03.014

Abstract

Abstract: Autophagy plays a dual regulatory role in the development of cervical cancer.Studies indicate a mutually inhibitory relationship between the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and cellular autophagy:activated Wnt pathway suppresses autophagy by downregulating Beclin 1 and inhibiting GSK-3β,while autophagy can degrade Dvl protein to restrict excessive activation of the Wnt pathway.In cervical cells,this pathway can be aberrantly activated through various mechanisms:for example,the E6 protein upregulates the downstream target gene cyclin D1 and E7 protein to release the PP2A inhibition;the non-coding RNA circRNF121 reactivates Wnt signaling;and the non-coding RNA NEAT1 increases the nuclear β-catenin accumulation.These mechanisms subsequently modulate autophagy in cervical cells and promote tumor progression.Targeting key components of this pathway may offer new strategies for cervical cancer treatment.Future exploration of the bidirectional regulatory mechanisms of the Wnt pathway on autophagy will advance the development of precision therapy.

Key words: Wnt signaling pathway, cervical cancer, high-risk human papillomavirus, autophagy

CLC Number:

R373
R711

ZHAO Xinyi, WANG Zhilian. Role of Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Autophagy of Cervical Cells[J]. Journal of Medical Molecular Biology, 2026, 23(3): 337-341.

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