WFDC2 contributes to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating AKT signaling pathway and regulating MMP-2 expression

Objective: To understand the role of WFDC2 in metastasis of ovarian cancer. Methods: By knockdown or overexpression of WFDC2, we demonstrated the role of WFDC2 in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Results: We demonstrated that stable knockdown of WFDC2 suppressed EMT along with the upregulation of E-cadherin and the downregulation of Vimentin. In addition, WFDC2 knockdown decreases matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression in in vitro cell model and in in vivo nude mice xenografts. The correlation of WFDC2 and MMP-2 expression in the clinical sample confirmed that WFDC2 was tightly correlated with the development of tumor. More importantly, the EMT phenotype and cell invasion induced by WFDC2 overexpressing can be reversed by the siMMP-2 and P13K/AKT signaling inhibitor. Conclusion: WFDC2 contributed to ovarian cancer metastasis and EMT as a positive regulator by activating AKT signaling pathway and inducing MMP-2 expression.