PAK6 promotes cervical cancer progression through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

p21-activated kinase 6 (PAK6), a member of the serine/threonine kinase family, has been reported to be involved in numerous types of cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the role of PAK6 in cervical cancer. In the present study, PAK6 expression was evaluated in tissue microarrays and cell lines by using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The mRNA level of PAK6 was evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling-related protein expression was detected by western blotting following short hairpin (sh)RNA-mediated PAK6 knockdown or PAK6 overexpression. Cell proliferation was determined using Cell Countink Kit-8. Migration, invasion and colony formation were further assessed following PAK6 knockdown or overexpression. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and fluorescence colocalization microscopy were used to detect the interaction between PAK6 and GSK3β. The results from tissue microarray revealed that the expression levels of PAK6 in cervical cancer tissues were upregulated. The downregulation of PAK6 expression levels using shRNA not only decreased cell growth and proliferation, but it also inhibited the migration and invasion of HeLa cells. Conversely, the overexpression of PAK6 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of HeLa cells. In addition, the expression levels of proteins involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were modified in the PAK6 knockdown group, including downregulation of GSK3β phosphorylation and Cyclin D1 protein, and upregulation of β-catenin phosphorylation and E-cadherin. In contrast, following the overexpression of PAK6, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was activated. Further investigation using fluorescence microscopy and Co-IP assays indicated that PAK6 may interact with GSK3β. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that PAK6 may serve a role in promoting cervical cancer through activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.