Interference with ANXA8 inhibits the malignant progression of ovarian cancer by suppressing the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via UCHL5.

Ovarian cancer (OC), which threatens women's lives, is a common tumor of the female reproductive system. Annexin A8 (ANXA8) is highly expressed in OC. However, the mechanism of ANXA8 in OC remains unclear. This study investigated the potential mechanisms of ANXA8 in OC. The expression of ANXA8 in OC cells was determined by qRT-PCR and western blotting. ANXA8 interference plasmid was constructed. Moreover, CCK-8, EDU staining, TUNEL staining, western blotting, wound healing, and transwell assays were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, respectively. Next, the relationship between ANXA8 and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L5 (UCHL5) was verified through Co-IP. Finally, western blotting was used to detect the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling-related proteins. Additionally, we further interfered ANXA8 in nude mice with OC, and detected the expression of ANXA8, UCHL5 and the signaling pathway-related proteins by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Our results suggested that ANXA8 expression was significantly increased in OC cells. ANXA8 interference significantly attenuated the proliferative, invasive, and migratory capabilities and promoted the apoptotic ability of OC cells. Moreover, the expression of UCHL5 in OC was significantly increased. ANXA8 bound to UCHL5 in OC cells. Knockdown of ANXA8 attenuated OC cell malignant progression by downregulating the expression of UCHL5. Furthermore, ANXA8 affected the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins in OC cells via UCHL5. Collectively, ANXA8 interference suppressed the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via UCHL5 to inhibit cell proliferation, invasion, migration and induce cell apoptosis in OC, thus presenting a potential therapeutic strategy for OC treatment.