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Wang X, Liu J, Mao C, Mao Y. Phase separation-mediated biomolecular condensates and their relationship to tumor. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:143. [PMID: 38383403 PMCID: PMC10880379 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01518-9] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Phase separation is a cellular phenomenon where macromolecules aggregate or segregate, giving rise to biomolecular condensates resembling "droplets" and forming distinct, membrane-free compartments. This process is pervasive in biological cells, contributing to various essential cellular functions. However, when phase separation goes awry, leading to abnormal molecular aggregation, it can become a driving factor in the development of diseases, including tumor. Recent investigations have unveiled the intricate connection between dysregulated phase separation and tumor pathogenesis, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic target. This article provides an overview of recent phase separation research, with a particular emphasis on its role in tumor, its therapeutic implications, and outlines avenues for further exploration in this intriguing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Jiameng Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Chaoming Mao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China.
| | - Yufei Mao
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China.
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2
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Zhou X, Fu C, Chen X. The role of ubiquitin pathway-mediated regulation of immune checkpoints in cancer immunotherapy. Cancer 2023; 129:1649-1661. [PMID: 36857206 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
With the continuous cognition of the relationship between tumor cells and tumor immune microenvironment, immunotherapy based on the immune checkpoint blockade has achieved great breakthroughs, led to improved clinical outcomes, and prolonged survival for cancer patients in recent years. Nevertheless, the de novo or acquired resistance to immunotherapy has greatly counteracted the efficacy, leading to a 20%-40% overall response rate. Thus, further in-depth understanding of the regulation of the tumor microenvironment and antitumor immunity is urgently warranted. Ubiquitination-mediated protein degradation plays vital roles in protein stabilization, activation, and dynamics as well as in cellular homeostasis modulation. The dysregulated ubiquitination and deubiquitination are closely related to the changes in physiological and pathological processes, which subsequently result in a variety of diseases including cancer. In this review, the authors first summarize the current knowledge about the involvement of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in tumor development with the ubiquitin conjugation-regulated stability of p53, phosphatase and tensin homolog, and Myc protein as examples, then dissect the potential implications of ubiquitination-mediated immune checkpoints degradation in tumor microenvironment and immune responses, and finally discuss the effects of therapeutically targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway on immunotherapy, with the goal of providing deep insights into the exploitation of more precise and effective combinational therapy against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Zhou
- Cancer Research Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chengxiao Fu
- Cancer Research Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xisha Chen
- Cancer Research Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Ye P, Chi X, Cha JH, Luo S, Yang G, Yan X, Yang WH. Potential of E3 Ubiquitin Ligases in Cancer Immunity: Opportunities and Challenges. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123309. [PMID: 34943817 PMCID: PMC8699390 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and immune pathway–targeted therapies, are promising clinical strategies for treating cancer. However, drug resistance and adverse reactions remain the main challenges for immunotherapy management. The future direction of immunotherapy is mainly to reduce side effects and improve the treatment response rate by finding new targets and new methods of combination therapy. Ubiquitination plays a crucial role in regulating the degradation of immune checkpoints and the activation of immune-related pathways. Some drugs that target E3 ubiquitin ligases have exhibited beneficial effects in preclinical and clinical antitumor treatments. In this review, we discuss mechanisms through which E3 ligases regulate tumor immune checkpoints and immune-related pathways as well as the opportunities and challenges for integrating E3 ligases targeting drugs into cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ye
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
| | - Xiaoxia Chi
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
| | - Jong-Ho Cha
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Graduate School, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Shahang Luo
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
| | - Guanghui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
| | - Xiuwen Yan
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
- Correspondence: (X.Y.); (W.-H.Y.)
| | - Wen-Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (X.Y.); (W.-H.Y.)
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4
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Chen G, Chen L, Huang Y, Zhu X, Yu Y. Increased FUN14 domain containing 1 (FUNDC1) ubiquitination level inhibits mitophagy and alleviates the injury in hypoxia-induced trophoblast cells. Bioengineered 2021; 13:3620-3633. [PMID: 34699308 PMCID: PMC8974051 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1997132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy disorder characterized by excessive trophoblast cell death. This study aims to explore the exact mechanism of the ubiquitination level of FUN14 domain containing 1 (FUNDC1) in mitophagy and injury in hypoxic trophoblast cells. In this study, HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells were cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions and PE mouse model was established. We found low ubiquitination level of FUNDC1 in hypoxic trophoblast cells and placenta of pregnant women with PE. Proteasome inhibitor MG-132 and protease activator MF-094 were added into HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells. Proteasome inhibitor MG-132 decreased FUNDC1 ubiquitination level while protease activator MF-094 increased FUNDC1 ubiquitination level. Inhibition of FUNDC1 ubiquitination promoted mitophagy and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) in normoxic trophoblast cells, increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased levels of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In addition, FUNDC1 ubiquitination alleviated cell injury in PE mice in vivo. In conclusion, increased FUNDC1 ubiquitination level inhibited mitophagy and Δψm changes in hypoxic trophoblast cells, and thus alleviated oxidative injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- GuoQing Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518028; China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518028; China
| | - Yan Huang
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518028; China
| | - XiongShan Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518028; China
| | - YuanLan Yu
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518026, China
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Zhou P, Lu Y, Xun Y, Xu J, Liu C, Xia Q, Lu J, Wang S, Hu J. Ubiquitin Modification Patterns of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and the Ubiquitin Score to Aid Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:659294. [PMID: 34055790 PMCID: PMC8158301 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.659294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin modification is the most common protein post-translational modification (PTM) process in organisms, and 1332 ubiquitin regulators have been identified in humans. Ubiquitin regulators, especially E3 ligases and deubiquitinases, are widely involved in immune processes. This study aims to explore the ubiquitin modification features of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and to elucidate the role of such ubiquitin modifications in shaping anti-tumor immunity and individual benefits from immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). A comprehensive analysis was performed in the TCGA cohort (n = 530) and GEO cohort (n = 682). RNA sequencing data of 758 differentially expressed regulators, which was validated by the proteomics data, was used for k-means unsupervised consensus clustering and three ubiquitin patterns of ccRCC were identified. Then, we focused on the ubiquitin modification and tumor progression signatures, immune infiltration characteristics, and prognostic value. The three patterns with different ubiquitin modification signatures correspond to “immune desert phenotype,” “immune resistance phenotype,” and “immune-inflammatory phenotype,” respectively. To facilitate clinical application, we constructed a ubiquitin score to evaluate individual patients’ ubiquitination outcome, and it was demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for overall survival (OS) in multivariate Cox analysis. It was found that the high score group was correlated to higher immune cells infiltrating level and PD-1/PD-L1/CTLA-4 expression. More importantly, we found that the high score group was predicted to be sensitive to anti-PD-1 treatment, while the low-score group showed lower predicted IC50 values in treatment with Pazopanib and Axitinib. In summary, this study elucidated the potential link between ubiquitin modification and immune infiltration landscape of ccRCC for the first time and provided a new assessment protocol for the precise selection of treatment strategies for patients with advanced ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhou
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuchao Lu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Xun
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinzhou Xu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenqian Liu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qidong Xia
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Junlin Lu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaogang Wang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Hu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Yue M, Yun Z, Li S, Yan G, Kang Z. NEDD4 triggers FOXA1 ubiquitination and promotes colon cancer progression under microRNA-340-5p suppression and ATF1 upregulation. RNA Biol 2021; 18:1981-1995. [PMID: 33530829 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1885232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
NEDD4 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that recognizes substrates through protein-protein interactions and is involved in cancer development. This study aimed to elucidate the function of NEDD4 in colon cancer (CC) progression and its mechanism of action. NEDD4 was abundantly expressed in CC tissues and cells, and the overexpression of NEDD4 promoted the growth and metastasis of xenograft tumours as well as the tumorigenesis rate of primary CC in mouse models. In in vitro experiments, the silencing (or upregulation) of NEDD4 inhibited (or increased) the viability, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of CC cells. The binding relationships between NEDD4 and FOXA1, FOXA1 and microRNA (miRNA)-340-5p, and miR-340-5p and ATF1 were validated by Co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays, and NEDD4 was demonstrated to trigger FOXA1 ubiquitination and degradation. FOXA1 transcriptionally activated miR-340-5p, which subsequently bound to ATF1 mRNA. The upregulation of FOXA1 or miR-340-5p or the downregulation of ATF1 blocked certain functions of NEDD4 in CC cells. Altogether, NEDD4 was demonstrated to trigger FOXA1 ubiquitination and promote CC progression under the involvement of microRNA-340-5p suppression and ATF1 upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Yue
- Department of Colorecal & Anal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Zhennan Yun
- Department of Colorecal & Anal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Shiquan Li
- Department of Colorecal & Anal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Guoqiang Yan
- Department of Colorecal & Anal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Zhenhua Kang
- Department of Colorecal & Anal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China
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Liao Q, Zhou Y, Xia L, Cao D. Lipid Metabolism and Immune Checkpoints. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1316:191-211. [PMID: 33740251 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-33-6785-2_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoints are essential for the regulation of immune cell functions. Although the abrogation of immunosurveillance of tumor cells is known, the regulators of immune checkpoints are not clear. Lipid metabolism is one of the important metabolic activities in organisms. In lipid metabolism, a large number of metabolites produced can regulate the gene expression and activation of immune checkpoints through various pathways. In addition, increasing evidence has shown that lipid metabolism leads to transient generation or accumulation of toxic lipids that result in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and then regulate the transcriptional and posttranscriptional modifications of immune checkpoints, including transcription, protein folding, phosphorylation, palmitoylation, etc. More importantly, the lipid metabolism can also affect exosome transportation of checkpoints and the degradation of checkpoints by affecting ubiquitination and lysosomal trafficking. In this chapter, we mainly empathize on the roles of lipid metabolism in the regulation of immune checkpoints, such as gene expression, activation, and degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianjin Liao
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Yujuan Zhou
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Longzheng Xia
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Deliang Cao
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Simmons Cancer Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
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Targeted degradation of immune checkpoint proteins: emerging strategies for cancer immunotherapy. Oncogene 2020; 39:7106-7113. [PMID: 33024277 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01491-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using immune-checkpoint blockade has displayed promising clinical effects, but prevalent antibody-based inhibitors face multiple challenges such as low response rate, acquired resistance, and adverse effects. The intracellular expression of PD-1/PD-L1 in recycling endosomes and their active trafficking to membrane highlight the importance of depleting rather than interfering with checkpoint proteins. Preclinical investigations on the therapeutic effects of lead compounds that function by degrading immune checkpoint ligands and receptors have reported highly promising results. By harnessing the degradation capabilities of the lysosome, proteasome and autophagosomes, different small molecules and peptides potently induced degradation of checkpoint proteins and enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments support the therapeutic efficacy of these molecules. Thus, targeted degradation through endo-lysosomal, autophagic, proteasomal, or endoplasmic reticulum-related pathways may provide promising strategies for tackling the challenges in cancer immunotherapy.
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