USP22 promotes the expression of GLUT1 and HK2 to facilitate growth and glycolysis in cervical cancer cells

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers in women, of which the pathogenesis should be further investigated to improve the prognosis. Objectives: The goal of this study is to investigate the role of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) in cervical cancer and reveal its involvement in the signaling pathway. Results: Upregulation of USP22 was observed in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Cell proliferation, lactate production, glucose uptake and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was increased by overexpression of USP22 and decreased by suppression of USP22. The protein expression levels of Forkhead Box M1 (FoxM1), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and hexokinase-2 (HK2) were upregulated by overexpression of USP22 and downregulated by suppression of USP22. Co-transfection of shUSP22 and FoxM1 attenuated the inhibitory effects of shUSP22 on the growth and glycolysis of cervical cancer cells. Conclusion: upregulation of USP22 in cervical cancer could promote cell proliferation and glycolysis through mediating FoxM1, indicating that USP22 and FoxM1 could be therapeutic targets in cervical cancer.