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Tan J, Liao S, Yuan B, Liu X, Yu W, Zhan H, Jiang Y, Liu Y. Targeting SMYD2 promotes ferroptosis and impacts the progression of pancreatic cancer through the c-Myc/NCOA4 axis-mediated ferritinophagy. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2024; 1868:130683. [PMID: 39089637 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterized by a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Ferroptosis plays an important role in cancer, SET and MYND domain-containing protein 2 (SMYD2) is widely expressed in various cancers. However, the role of SMYD2 in regulating ferroptosis in PC remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the role of SMYD2 in mediating ferroptosis and its mechanistic implications in PC progression. METHODS The levels of SMYD2, c-Myc, and NCOA4 were assessed in PC tissues, and peritumoral tissues. SMYD2 expression was further analyzed in human PC cell lines. In BxPC3 cells, the expression of c-Myc, NCOA4, autophagy-related proteins, and mitochondrial morphology, was evaluated following transfection with si-SMYD2 and treatment with autophagy inhibitors and ferroptosis inhibitors. Ferroptosis levels were quantified using flow cytometry and ELISA assays. RNA immunoprecipitation was conducted to elucidate the interaction between c-Myc and NCOA4 mRNA. A xenograft mouse model was constructed to validate the impact of SMYD2 knockdown on PC growth. RESULTS SMYD2 and c-Myc were found to be highly expressed in PC tissues, while NCOA4 showed reduced expression. Among the PC cell lines studied, BxPC3 cells exhibited the highest SMYD2 expression. SMYD2 knockdown led to decreased c-Myc levels, increased NCOA4 expression, reduced autophagy-related protein expression, mitochondrial shrinkage, and heightened ferroptosis levels. Additionally, an interaction between c-Myc and NCOA4 was identified. In vivo, SMYD2 knockdown inhibited tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS Targeting SMYD2 inhibits PC progression by promoting ferritinophagy-dependent ferroptosis through the c-Myc/NCOA4 axis. These findings provide insights into potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Tan
- Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shan Liao
- Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bowen Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xinrong Liu
- Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wentao Yu
- Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Han Zhan
- 921 Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Li J, Hong Z, Zhang J, Zheng S, Wan F, Liu Z, Dai B. Lysine methyltransferase SMYD2 enhances androgen receptor signaling to modulate CRPC cell resistance to enzalutamide. Oncogene 2024; 43:744-757. [PMID: 38243079 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-02945-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Androgen receptors (ARs) play key roles in prostate cancer (PCa) progression and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) resistance to drug therapy. SET and MYND domain containing protein 2 (SMYD2), a lysine methyltransferase, has been reported to promote tumors by transcriptionally methylating important oncogenes or tumor repressor genes. However, the role of SMYD2 in CRPC drug resistance remains unclear. In this study, we found that SMYD2 expression was significantly upregulated in PCa tissues and cell lines. High SMYD2 expression indicated poor CRPC-free survival and overall survival in patients. SMYD2 knockdown dramatically inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) potential of 22Rv1 and C4-2 cells. Conversely, ectopic overexpression of SMYD2 promoted these effects in 22Rv1 and C4-2 cells. Mechanistically, SMYD2 methylated and phosphorylated ARs to affect AR ubiquitination and proteasome degradation, which further alters the AR transcriptome in CRPC cells. Importantly, the SMYD2 inhibitor AZ505 had a synergistic therapeutic effect with enzalutamide in CRPC cells and mouse models; however, it could also re-sensitize resistant CRPC cells to enzalutamide. Our findings demonstrated that SMYD2 enhances the methylation and phosphorylation of ARs and affects AR ubiquitination and proteasome degradation to modulate CRPC cell resistance to enzalutamide, indicating that SMYD2 serves as a crucial oncogene in PCa and is an ideal therapeutic target for CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhong Li
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhe Hong
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, 200032, Shanghai, China.
| | - Junyu Zhang
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengfeng Zheng
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangning Wan
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Dai
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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Jeong S, Chokkalla AK, Davis CK, Vemuganti R. Post-stroke depression: epigenetic and epitranscriptomic modifications and their interplay with gut microbiota. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4044-4055. [PMID: 37188778 PMCID: PMC10646155 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02099-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic and epitranscriptomic modifications that regulate physiological processes of an organism at the DNA and RNA levels, respectively, are novel therapeutic candidates for various neurological diseases. Gut microbiota and its metabolites are known to modulate DNA methylation and histone modifications (epigenetics), as well as RNA methylation especially N6-methyladenosine (epitranscriptomics). As gut microbiota as well as these modifications are highly dynamic across the lifespan of an organism, they are implicated in the pathogenesis of stroke and depression. The lack of specific therapeutic interventions for managing post-stroke depression emphasizes the need to identify novel molecular targets. This review highlights the interaction between the gut microbiota and epigenetic/epitranscriptomic pathways and their interplay in modulating candidate genes that are involved in post-stroke depression. This review further focuses on the three candidates, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, ten-eleven translocation family proteins, and fat mass and obesity-associated protein based on their prevalence and pathoetiologic role in post-stroke depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soomin Jeong
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anil K Chokkalla
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Charles K Davis
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Raghu Vemuganti
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
- William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA.
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Yu S, Zeng Y, Ruan C, Bai L, Liang Z. Protective effects of brain and muscle ARNT-like gene 1 on oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced human brain microvascular endothelial cell injury by alleviating ferroptosis. Hum Exp Toxicol 2023; 42:9603271231184630. [PMID: 37343012 DOI: 10.1177/09603271231184630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Ferroptosis plays an important role in atherosclerotic cerebrovascular diseases. The brain and muscle ARNT-like gene 1 (BMAL1) is an important mediator in the progression of cerebrovascular diseases. However, whether BMAL1 regulates ferroptosis in atherosclerotic cerebrovascular diseases remains obscure. Here, human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) were exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to imitate cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. It was found that ox-LDL treatment induced ferroptosis events and reduced BMAL1 expression in HBMECs, which could be reversed by ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1. Furthermore, BMAL1 overexpression markedly mitigated ox-LDL-induced ferroptosis events and cell damage. Moreover, BMAL1 overexpression significantly promoted nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression in HBMECs under ox-LDL conditions. And, Nrf2 silencing attenuated the protective effects of BMAL1 on ox-LDL-stimulated HBMEC damage and ferroptosis. Altogether, our findings delineate the cerebrovascular protective role of BMAL1/Nrf2 by antagonizing ferroptosis in response to ox-LDL stimulation and provide novel perspectives for therapeutic strategies for atherosclerotic cerebrovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shui Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Dujiangyan, Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yijun Zeng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Dujiangyan, Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Chenbin Ruan
- Department of Neurology, The People's Hospital of Dujiangyan, Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Lei Bai
- Department of Neurology, The People's Hospital of Dujiangyan, Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Zhang Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Dujiangyan, Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, China
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Su Z, Su H, Xu J, Wei G, Qu L, Ni T, Yang D, Zhu Y. Histone methyltransferase Smyd2 drives vascular aging by its enhancer-dependent activity. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 15:70-91. [PMID: 36585926 PMCID: PMC9876634 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular aging is one of the important factors contributing to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. However, the systematic epigenetic regulatory mechanisms during vascular aging are still unclear. Histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain-containing protein 2 (Smyd2) is associated with multiple diseases including cancer and inflammatory diseases, but whether it is involved in endothelial cell senescence and aging-related cardiovascular diseases has not been directly proved. Thus, we aim to address the effects of Smyd2 on regulating angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced vascular endothelial cells (VECs) senescence and its epigenetic mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS The regulatory role of Smyd2 in Ang II-induced VECs senescence was confirmed by performing loss and gain function assays. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis was used to systematically screen the potential enhancer during VECs senescence. Here, we found that Smyd2 was significantly upregulated in Ang II-triggered VECs, and deficiency of Smyd2 attenuated senescence-associated phenotypes both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, Ang II-induced upregulation of Smyd2 could increase the mono-methylation level of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me1), resulting in a hyper-methylated chromatin state, then further activating enhancers adjacent to key aging-related genes, such as Cdkn1a and Cdkn2a, finally driving the development of vascular aging. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our study uncovered that Smyd2 drives a hyper-methylated chromatin state via H3K4me1 and actives the enhancer elements adjacent to key senescence genes such as Cdkn1a and Cdkn2a, and further induces the senescence-related phenotypes. Targeting Smyd2 possibly unveiled a novel therapeutic candidate for vascular aging-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghua Su
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacophenomics Laboratory, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bioactive Small Molecules, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China
| | - Haibi Su
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacophenomics Laboratory, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bioactive Small Molecules, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China
| | - Jie Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacophenomics Laboratory, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bioactive Small Molecules, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China
| | - Gang Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacophenomics Laboratory, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bioactive Small Molecules, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China
| | - Lefeng Qu
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Ting Ni
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacophenomics Laboratory, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bioactive Small Molecules, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China
| | - Di Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacophenomics Laboratory, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bioactive Small Molecules, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China
| | - Yizhun Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacophenomics Laboratory, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bioactive Small Molecules, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China,State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmacy, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 999078, P.R. China
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