Knockdown of RNF6 inhibits HeLa cervical cancer cell growth via suppression of MAPK/ERK signaling

Ring finger protein 6 (RNF6) is implicated in various human malignancies, but its function in cervical cancer (CC) is incompletely understood. Here, we explored the biological significance of RNF6 in HeLa CC cells and the underlying regulatory mechanisms. The expression of RNF6 was observed to be high in both primary tissues and CC cells. RNF6 promoted HeLa CC cell growth. Knockdown of RNF6 in CC cells resulted in suppression of proliferation and promotion of apoptosis. Moreover, elevation of RNF6 had an adverse effect on the prognosis of CC. Subsequent analyses showed that these effects may be mediated via activation of ERK signaling. These findings provide evidence that the knockdown of RNF6 suppresses the MAPK/ERK pathway to regulate the growth of CC cells, which suggests that RNF6 may have potential as a target for diagnosis and treatment for CC.