Detection of Complement C1q B Chain Overexpression and Its Latent Molecular Mechanisms in Cervical Cancer Tissues Using Multiple Methods

Aim: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the expression and clinicopathological significance of complement C1q B chain () in cervical cancer.

Methods: In total, 120 cervical cancer tissues, as well as 20 samples each of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), and benign cervical tissue, were collected to evaluate the expression of protein via immunohistochemical staining. We conducted an integrated analysis of mRNA expression in cervical cancer using public microarrays and RNA-seq data sets by calculating standard mean differences (SMDs). Simultaneously, we explored the relations of with clinicopathological parameters and the expression of P16, Ki-67, and P53.

Results: The expression of protein was higher in cervical cancer samples than that in benign cervical tissue, LSIL, and HSIL samples ( < 0.05). A combined SMD of 0.65 (95% CI: [0.52, 0.79], < 0.001) revealed upregulation of mRNA in cervical cancer. expression may also be related to the depth of infiltration, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion in cervical cancer ( < 0.05). We also found that protein expression was positively correlated with P16 and Ki-67 expression in cervical cancer ( < 0.05). The gene set enrichment analysis showed that may participate in apoptosis and autophagy. A relationship was predicted between expression and drug sensitivity to cisplatin, paclitaxel, and docetaxel.

Conclusion: We confirmed the overexpression of in cervical cancer at both mRNA and protein levels for the first time. may serve as an oncogene in the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer, but this possibility requires further study.