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Zhu Z, Xiang Q, Li S, Chen C, Shi J. Serine/Threonine kinase 16 phosphorylates STAT3 and confers a JAK2-Inhibition resistance phenotype in triple-negative breast cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 225:116268. [PMID: 38723720 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116268] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Although Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) plays a critical role in the progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), its inhibitors are incapable of eradicating these tumor cells, implicating drug resistance mechanisms exist. Our evidences show that TNBC cells express high level of Serine/Threonine Kinase 16 (STK16) when JAK2 signaling is blocked. Pharmacological inhibition or silencing of STK16 significantly enhances the sensitivity of TNBC cells to JAK2 inhibition, while over-expression of STK16 alleviates the anti-tumor effect of JAK2-inhibitor. Mechanistically, elevated STK16 expression rescues the phosphorylation status and transcriptional activity of STAT3, as STK16 is able to directly catalyze the phosphorylation of STAT3 at ser-727 residue. Our data indicate that upon JAK2 inhibition, TNBC cells express STK16 to maintain STAT3 transcriptional activity, dual-inhibition of JAK2/STK16 offers a potential way to treat TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyun Zhu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Qin Xiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, 511518, Qingyuan, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuangqiong Li
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian Shi
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
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Cao X, Tian J, Cheung MY, Zhang L, Liu Z, Jiang Z, Zhang S, Xiao K, Zhao S, Wang M, Ding F, Li S, Ma L, Zhao H, Sun J. Entry of ZSWIM4 to the nucleus is crucial for its inhibition of KIT and BMAL1 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:87. [PMID: 38951864 PMCID: PMC11218225 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01271-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zinc finger SWIM-type containing 4 (ZSWIM4) is a zinc finger protein with its function largely uncharacterized. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of ZSWIM4 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). RESULTS We found that ZSWIM4 expression is inhibited by the predominantly mutated protein KIT in GISTs, while conversely, ZSWIM4 inhibits KIT expression and downstream signaling. Consistent with the observation, ZSWIM4 inhibited GIST cell survival and proliferation in vitro. RNA sequencing of GISTs from KITV558A/WT mice and KITV558A/WT/ZSWIM4-/- mice showed that loss of ZSWIM4 expression increases the expression of circadian clock pathway member BMAL1 which contributes to GIST cell survival and proliferation. In addition, we found that KIT signaling increases the distribution of ZSWIM4 in the nucleus of GIST cells, and which is important for its inhibition of KIT and BMAL1. In agreement with the results in vitro, the in vivo studies showed that ZSWIM4 deficiency increases the tumorigenesis of GISTs in KITV558A/WT mice. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results revealed that the entry of ZSWIM4 to the nucleus is important for its inhibition of KIT and BMAL1, ultimately attenuating GIST tumorigenesis. The results provide a novel insight in the understanding of signal transduction in GISTs and lay strong theoretical basis for the advancement of GIST treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Cao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Jinhai Tian
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Man Yee Cheung
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liangying Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Zimei Liu
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zongying Jiang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- The General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shaoting Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Kun Xiao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Sien Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Ming Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Feng Ding
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shujing Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- The General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Lijun Ma
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hui Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Kunming Institute of Zoology - The Chinese University of Hong Kong (KIZ-CUHK) Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research of Common Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Hong Kong Branch of CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Jianmin Sun
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.
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Gong K, Huang Y, Zheng Y, Hao W, Shi K. ZSWIM4 inhibition improves chemosensitivity in epithelial ovarian cancer cells by suppressing intracellular glycine biosynthesis. J Transl Med 2024; 22:192. [PMID: 38383406 PMCID: PMC10880229 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04980-8] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zinc finger SWIM-type containing 4 (ZSWIM4) induces drug resistance in breast cancer cells. However, its role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of ZSWIM4 expression in EOC and develop new clinical therapeutic strategies for EOC. METHODS ZSWIM4 expression in control and EOC tumor tissues was examined using immunohistochemistry. Lentiviral transduction, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, tumorsphere formation assay, flow cytometry, western blotting, and animal xenograft model were used to assess the role of ZSWIM4 in chemotherapy. Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation (CUT&Tag) assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, and luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm FOXK1-mediated upregulation of ZSWIM4 expression. The mechanism by which ZSWIM4 inhibition improves chemosensitivity was evaluated using RNA-sequencing. A ZSWIM4-targeting inhibitor was explored by virtual screening and surface plasmon resonance analysis. Patient-derived organoid (PDO) models were constructed from EOC tumor tissues with ZSWIM4 expression. RESULTS ZSWIM4 was overexpressed in EOC tumor tissues and impaired patient prognoses. Its expression correlated positively with EOC recurrence. ZSWIM4 expression was upregulated following carboplatin treatment, which, in turn, contributed to chemoresistance. Silencing ZSWIM4 expression sensitized EOC cells to carboplatin treatment in vitro and in vivo. FOXK1 could bind to the GTAAACA sequence of the ZSWIM4 promoter region to upregulate ZSWIM4 transcriptional activity and FOXK1 expression increased following carboplatin treatment, leading to an increase in ZSWIM4 expression. Mechanistically, ZSWIM4 knockdown downregulated the expression of several rate-limiting enzymes involved in glycine synthesis, causing a decrease in intracellular glycine levels, thus enhancing intracellular reactive oxygen species production induced by carboplatin treatment. Compound IPN60090 directly bound to ZSWIM4 protein and exerted a significant chemosensitizing effect in both EOC cells and PDO models. CONCLUSIONS ZSWIM4 inhibition enhanced EOC cell chemosensitivity by ameliorating intracellular glycine metabolism reprogramming, thus providing a new potential therapeutic strategy for EOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunxiang Gong
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, Guangdong, China
| | - Yinger Huang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanqin Zheng
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenbo Hao
- Institute of Antibody Engineering, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
| | - Kun Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China.
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, Guangdong, China.
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