Wip1 cooperates with KPNA2 to modulate the cell proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer via a p53-dependent manner

Due to the increasing incidence and mortality, the early diagnosis, specific targeted therapies, and prognosis for colorectal cancer (CRC) attract more and more attention. Wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) and karyopherin α2 (KPNA2) have been regarded as oncogenes in many cancers, including CRC. Wip1 dephosphorylates p53 to inactivate it. TP53 activator and Wip1 inhibitor downregulate KPNA2 expression. Therefore, we speculate that Wip1 may co-operate with KPNA2 to modulate CRC progression in a p53-dependent manner. Here, Wip1 and KPNA2 messenger RNA expression and protein levels are significantly increased in CRC tissues and cell lines and are positively correlated with each other. Wip1 silence increases p53 phosphorylation while decreases KPNA2 protein. Wip1 knockdown remarkably suppresses CRC cell proliferation and migration while KPNA2 overexpression exerts an opposing effect. KPNA2 overexpression could partially rescue Wip1 silence-inhibited CRC cell proliferation and migration. Finally, Wip1 interacts with KPNA2 to modulate the activation of AKT/GSK-3β signaling and metastasis-related factors. In summary, Wip1 could co-operate with KPNA2 to modulate CRC cell proliferation and migration, possibly via a p53-dependent manner, through downstream AKT/GSK-3β pathway. We provided a novel mechanism of Wip1 interacting with KPNA2, therefore modulating CRC cell proliferation and migration.