Increased Migration and Local Invasion Potential of SiHaCervical Cancer Cells Expressing Aquaporin 8

Overexpression of several aquaporins (AQPS) has been reported in different types of human cancer but rolesin human carcinogenesis have yet to be clearly defined. Here, we up-regulated expression of the AQP8 gene inSiHa human cervical cancer cells with a lentivirus transfection system and investigated its effects as a potentialtherapeutic target for cervical cancer. Results showed AQP8 overexpression did not affect their substrateadherence and proliferation, but accelerated migration as assessed by transwell migration and wound healingassays. Moreover, AQP8 overexpression significantly enhanced local invasion of SiHa cells in nude mice. Thesefindings altogether indicate that AQP8 overexpression increases migration of SiHa cells and probably participatesin the process of tumor local invasion.