Na/K-ATPase: More than an Electrogenic Pump.

The sodium pump, or Na/K-ATPase (NKA), is an essential enzyme found in the plasma membrane of all animal cells. Its primary role is to transport sodium (Na) and potassium (K) ions across the cell membrane, using energy from ATP hydrolysis. This transport creates and maintains an electrochemical gradient, which is crucial for various cellular processes, including cell volume regulation, electrical excitability, and secondary active transport.

Expression of miR-34a and miR-15b during the progression of cervical cancer in a murine model expressing the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein.

The high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) E7 oncoprotein appears to be a major determinant for cell immortalization and transformation altering critical processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and immune response. This oncoprotein plays an essential role in cervical carcinogenesis, but other cofactors such as long-term use of hormonal contraceptives are necessary to modulate the risk of cervical cancer (CC). The role of HR-HPVs in the alteration of microRNA (miRNA) levels in persistent viral infections currently remains unclear.