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Du Y, Yang Z, Shi H, Chen Z, Chen R, Zhou F, Peng X, Hong T, Jiang L. E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR5 promotes gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer by inducing O-GlcNAcylation-mediated EMT via destabilization of OGA. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:340. [PMID: 38755129 PMCID: PMC11099055 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06729-z] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the deadliest malignancies, with an extremely poor diagnosis and prognosis. Gemcitabine (GEM) remains the first-line drug for treating PC; however, only a small percentage of patients benefit from current immunotherapies or targeted therapies. Resistance to GEM is prevalent and affects long-term survival. We found that ubiquitin-protein ligase E3 module N-recognition 5 (UBR5) is a therapeutic target against GEM resistance. UBR5 was markedly upregulated in clinical GEM-resistant PC samples and GEM-resistant PC cells. UBR5 knockdown markedly increased GEM sensitivity in GEM-resistant PC cell lines. UBR5-mediated GEM resistance was accompanied by activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and could be mitigated by inhibiting EMT. Further analysis revealed that UBR5 promoted GEM resistance in PC cells by enhancing O-GlcNAcylation-mediated EMT. In addition, UBR5 knockdown resulted in increased O-GlcNAase (OGA) levels, an essential negatively regulated enzyme in the O-GlcNAcylation process. We identified a negative association between OGA and UBR5 levels, which further supported the hypothesis that O-GlcNAcylation-mediated GEM resistance induced by UBR5 is OGA-dependent in PC cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that UBR5 acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase of OGA and regulates O-GlcNAcylation by binding and modulating OGA, facilitating its degradation and ubiquitination. Additionally, high-throughput compound library screening using three-dimensional protein structure analysis and drug screening identified a Food and Drug Administration drug, Y-39983 dihydrochloride, as a potent GEM sensitiser and UBR5 inhibitor. The combination of Y-39983 dihydrochloride and GEM attenuated tumour growth in a mouse xenograft tumour model. Collectively, these data demonstrated that UBR5 plays a pivotal role in the sensitisation of PC to GEM and provides a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome GEM resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyan Du
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targets and Drug Screening of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Zhangjian Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targets and Drug Screening of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Hao Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targets and Drug Screening of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Zhihan Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targets and Drug Screening of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Rong Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targets and Drug Screening of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Fan Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Xiaogang Peng
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330000, China
| | - Tao Hong
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targets and Drug Screening of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
| | - Liping Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targets and Drug Screening of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
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Thomasy SM, Leonard BC, Greiner MA, Skeie JM, Raghunathan VK. Squishy matters - Corneal mechanobiology in health and disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 99:101234. [PMID: 38176611 PMCID: PMC11193890 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2023.101234] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The cornea, as a dynamic and responsive tissue, constantly interacts with mechanical forces in order to maintain its structural integrity, barrier function, transparency and refractive power. Cells within the cornea sense and respond to various mechanical forces that fundamentally regulate their morphology and fate in development, homeostasis and pathophysiology. Corneal cells also dynamically regulate their extracellular matrix (ECM) with ensuing cell-ECM crosstalk as the matrix serves as a dynamic signaling reservoir providing biophysical and biochemical cues to corneal cells. Here we provide an overview of mechanotransduction signaling pathways then delve into the recent advances in corneal mechanobiology, focusing on the interplay between mechanical forces and responses of the corneal epithelial, stromal, and endothelial cells. We also identify species-specific differences in corneal biomechanics and mechanotransduction to facilitate identification of optimal animal models to study corneal wound healing, disease, and novel therapeutic interventions. Finally, we identify key knowledge gaps and therapeutic opportunities in corneal mechanobiology that are pressing for the research community to address especially pertinent within the domains of limbal stem cell deficiency, keratoconus and Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. By furthering our understanding corneal mechanobiology, we can contextualize discoveries regarding corneal diseases as well as innovative treatments for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Thomasy
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, United States; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States.
| | - Brian C Leonard
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Mark A Greiner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States; Iowa Lions Eye Bank, Coralville, IA, United States
| | - Jessica M Skeie
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States; Iowa Lions Eye Bank, Coralville, IA, United States
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