DNAJC9 promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation by regulating GLI1 expression.

DNAJC9, an HSP40 family member with histone chaperone function, exhibits unclear roles in cervical cancer. DNAJC9 is specifically overexpressed in malignant cervical cancer cells, and downregulation of DNAJC9 inhibits proliferation, induces G1/S arrest, and suppresses tumorigenicity. GLI1 has been identified as a key downstream effector of DNAJC9, and GLI1 rescue reverses proliferation defects. Mechanistically, DNAJC9 promotes the p300-H3 interaction to sustain H3K27ac at the GLI1 enhancer and facilitate GLI1 transcription, driving proliferation. Furthermore, DNAJC9 expression correlates positively with GLI1 in clinical specimens, suggesting that the DNAJC9-GLI1 axis is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target.