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Liu Z, Yang LY, Hao JJ, Zhang N, Fan ZL, Cai HQ, Cai Y, Wei WQ, Zhang Y, Wang MR. Nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation of SQSTM1/p62 protein enhances ESCC cell migration and invasion by stabilizing EPLIN expression. Exp Cell Res 2024; 435:113910. [PMID: 38185251 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113910] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive malignant disease with a poor prognosis. We previously found that p62 presented a marked nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation in ESCC cells as compared that in normal esophageal epithelial cells, but its effects on ESCC cells remain unclear. This study aims to clarify the impacts of different cellular localization of p62 on the function of ESCC cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. We here demonstrated that cytoplasmic p62 enhances the migration and invasion abilities of esophageal cancer cells, whereas nuclear p62 has no effect. We further explored the interaction protein of p62 by using GST pull-down experiment and identified EPLIN as a potential protein interacting with p62. In addition, reducing EPLIN expression significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of ESCC cells, which were rescued when EPLIN expression was restored after the p62 knockdown. At a molecular level, p62 in cytoplasm positively regulated the expression of EPLIN via enhancing its protein stability. Data from the TCGA and GEO database displayed a significant up-regulation of EPLIN mRNA expression in ESCC tissues compared with corresponding paired esophageal epithelial samples. Our findings present evidence that the nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation of p62 protein contributes to an aggressive malignancy phenotype, providing candidate molecular biomarkers and potential molecular targets for the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zou Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Li-Yan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Jia-Jie Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Na Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Zhi-Lu Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Hong-Qing Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Wen-Qiang Wei
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Ming-Rong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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Zurlo M, Zuccato C, Cosenza LC, Gasparello J, Gamberini MR, Stievano A, Fortini M, Prosdocimi M, Finotti A, Gambari R. Decrease in α-Globin and Increase in the Autophagy-Activating Kinase ULK1 mRNA in Erythroid Precursors from β-Thalassemia Patients Treated with Sirolimus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15049. [PMID: 37894732 PMCID: PMC10606773 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The β-thalassemias are hereditary monogenic diseases characterized by a low or absent production of adult hemoglobin and excess in the content of α-globin. This excess is cytotoxic for the erythroid cells and responsible for the β-thalassemia-associated ineffective erythropoiesis. Therefore, the decrease in excess α-globin is a relevant clinical effect for these patients and can be realized through the induction of fetal hemoglobin, autophagy, or both. The in vivo effects of sirolimus (rapamycin) and analogs on the induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) are of key importance for therapeutic protocols in a variety of hemoglobinopathies, including β-thalassemias. In this research communication, we report data showing that a decrease in autophagy-associated p62 protein, increased expression of ULK-1, and reduction in excess α-globin are occurring in erythroid precursors (ErPCs) stimulated in vitro with low dosages of sirolimus. In addition, increased ULK-1 mRNA content and a decrease in α-globin content were found in ErPCs isolated from β-thalassemia patients recruited for the NCT03877809 clinical trial and treated with 0.5-2 mg/day sirolimus. Our data support the concept that autophagy, ULK1 expression, and α-globin chain reduction should be considered important endpoints in sirolimus-based clinical trials for β-thalassemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Zurlo
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (J.G.)
| | - Cristina Zuccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (J.G.)
- Center “Chiara Gemmo and Elio Zago” for the Research on Thalassemia, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lucia Carmela Cosenza
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (J.G.)
| | - Jessica Gasparello
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (J.G.)
| | - Maria Rita Gamberini
- Thalassemia Unit, Arcispedale S. Anna, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.R.G.); (A.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Alice Stievano
- Thalassemia Unit, Arcispedale S. Anna, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.R.G.); (A.S.); (M.F.)
| | - Monica Fortini
- Thalassemia Unit, Arcispedale S. Anna, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.R.G.); (A.S.); (M.F.)
| | | | - Alessia Finotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (J.G.)
- Center “Chiara Gemmo and Elio Zago” for the Research on Thalassemia, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.Z.); (L.C.C.); (J.G.)
- Center “Chiara Gemmo and Elio Zago” for the Research on Thalassemia, Ferrara University, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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