Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41628111›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

WNK2 may promote ovarian cancer progression by upregulating POU5F1B.

Fengjie Li, Yongqin Jia, Xiaoli Min, Pangyang Zhang, Yudi Li, Deng Li, Lanqin Cao, Yanzhou Wang, Zhiqing Liang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Fengjie LiDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital (Southwest Hospital) of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9877-3174
Yongqin JiaDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital (Southwest Hospital) of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Xiaoli MinDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital (Southwest Hospital) of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Pangyang ZhangDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital (Southwest Hospital) of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Yudi LiDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital (Southwest Hospital) of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Deng LiDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital (Southwest Hospital) of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Lanqin CaoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Yanzhou WangDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital (Southwest Hospital) of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Zhiqing LiangDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital (Southwest Hospital) of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OC) remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Our previous work showed that WNK lysine-deficient protein kinase 2 (WNK2) promotes OC cell proliferation and migration. To clarify the molecular basis of WNK2-driven OC progression, here, we performed transcriptome sequencing to identify WNK2-regulated mRNAs and noncoding RNAs. We validated candidate targets using qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Functional assays, including CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays, evaluated the role of POU5F1B and its capacity to rescue the effects of WNK2 knockdown. POU5F1B is a promising OC therapeutic target, mediating WNK2-driven oncogenesis in xenograft models (n = 10). Because AKT acts downstream of POU5F1B, we examined AKT phosphorylation and found that POU5F1B displayed clear oncogenic activity in OC cells. WNK2 upregulated POU5F1B mRNA and protein levels, while POU5F1B overexpression reversed the tumor-suppressive effects caused by WNK2 depletion. Mechanistically, WNK2 silencing decreased AKT phosphorylation, which POU5F1B overexpression restored. Together, these results demonstrate that WNK2 promotes OC progression by upregulating the validated oncogene POU5F1B and activating AKT signaling. These findings establish WNK2 as an oncogenic driver and a promising therapeutic target in OC.

Indexed as

Homeodomain ProteinsOvarian NeoplasmsProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesAnimalsCarcinogenesisCell Line, TumorDisease ProgressionFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticGene Knockdown TechniquesHumansMiceMice, NudePhosphorylationProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktRNA-SeqHomeodomain ProteinsPOU5F1B protein, humanProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktWNK2 protein, human

Identifiers

PMID41628111
PMCPMC12863568

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.