1
|
Li N, Zhang E, Li Z, Lv S, Zhao X, Ke Q, Zou Q, Li W, Wang Y, Guo H, Song T, Sun L. The P53-P21-RB1 pathway promotes BRD4 degradation in liver cancer through USP1. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105707. [PMID: 38309505 PMCID: PMC10907170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105707] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is notoriously refractory to conventional therapeutics. Tumor progression is governed by the interplay between tumor-promoting genes and tumor-suppressor genes. BRD4, an acetyl lysine-binding protein, is overexpressed in many cancer types, which promotes activation of a pro-tumor gene network. But the underlying mechanism for BRD4 overexpression remains incompletely understood. In addition, understanding the regulatory mechanism of BRD4 protein level will shed insight into BRD4-targeting therapeutics. In this study, we investigated the potential relation between BRD4 protein level and P53, the most frequently dysregulated tumor suppressor. By analyzing the TCGA datasets, we first identify a strong negative correlation between protein levels of P53 and BRD4 in liver cancer. Further investigation shows that P53 promotes BRD4 protein degradation. Mechanistically, P53 indirectly represses the transcription of USP1, a deubiquitinase, through the P21-RB1 axis. USP1 itself is also overexpressed in liver cancer and we show USP1 deubiquitinates BRD4 in vivo and in vitro, which increases BRD4 stability. With cell proliferation assays and xenograft model, we show the pro-tumor role of USP1 is partially mediated by BRD4. With functional transcriptomic analysis, we find the USP1-BRD4 axis upholds expression of a group of cancer-related genes. In summary, we identify a functional P53-P21-RB1-USP1-BRD4 axis in liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neng Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Erlei Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhenyong Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Suli Lv
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuefeng Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qian Ke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qingli Zou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wensheng Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haocheng Guo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tanjing Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Cell Architecture Research Institute, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Lidong Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Cell Architecture Research Institute, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li L, Kong L, Xu S, Wang C, Gu J, Luo H, Meng Q. FXR overexpression prevents hepatic steatosis through inhibiting AIM2 inflammasome activation in alcoholic liver disease. Hepatol Int 2024; 18:188-205. [PMID: 38183609 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10621-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a metabolic liver disease caused by excessive alcohol consumption, has attracted increasing attention due to its high prevalence and mortality. Up to date, there is no effective and feasible treatment method for ALD. This study was to investigate whether Farnesoid X receptor (FXR, NR1H4) can alleviate ALD and whether this effect is mediated by inhibiting absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome activation. METHODS The difference in FXR expression between normal subjects and ALD patients was analyzed using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet with 5% ethanol (v/v) (EtOH) was adopted to establish the mouse ALD model. Liver histopathological changes and the accumulation of lipid droplets were assessed by H&E and Oil Red O staining. Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence staining were utilized to evaluate the expression levels of related genes and proteins. DCFH-DA staining was adopted to visualize reactive oxidative species (ROS). RESULTS FXR was distinctly downregulated in liver tissues of patients with steatosis compared to normal livers using the GEO database, and in ethanol-induced AML-12 cellular steatosis model. FXR overexpression ameliorated hepatic lipid metabolism disorder and steatosis induced by ethanol by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis and inducing the expression of genes responsible for lipid metabolism. Besides, FXR overexpression inhibited ethanol-induced AIM2 inflammasome activation and alleviated oxidative stress and ROS production during ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis. However, when FXR was knocked down, the results were completely opposite. CONCLUSIONS FXR attenuated lipid metabolism disorders and lipid degeneration in alcohol-caused liver injury and alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation by inhibiting AIM2 inflammasome activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Lina Kong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Shuai Xu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Changyuan Wang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Jiangning Gu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Haifeng Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Qiang Meng
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yang YC, Zhao CJ, Jin ZF, Zheng J, Ma LT. Targeted therapy based on ubiquitin-specific proteases, signalling pathways and E3 ligases in non-small-cell lung cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1120828. [PMID: 36969062 PMCID: PMC10036052 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1120828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours worldwide, with the highest mortality rate. Approximately 1.6 million deaths owing to lung cancer are reported annually; of which, 85% of deaths occur owing to non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At present, the conventional treatment methods for NSCLC include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and surgery. However, drug resistance and tumour invasion or metastasis often lead to treatment failure. The ubiquitin–proteasome pathway (UPP) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumours. Upregulation or inhibition of proteins or enzymes involved in UPP can promote or inhibit the occurrence and development of tumours, respectively. As regulators of UPP, ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) primarily inhibit the degradation of target proteins by proteasomes through deubiquitination and hence play a carcinogenic or anticancer role. This review focuses on the role of USPs in the occurrence and development of NSCLC and the potential of corresponding targeted drugs, PROTACs and small-molecule inhibitors in the treatment of NSCLC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chen Yang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Can-Jun Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhao-Feng Jin
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Jin Zheng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Li-Tian Ma, ; Jin Zheng,
| | - Li-Tian Ma
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Li-Tian Ma, ; Jin Zheng,
| |
Collapse
|