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Montauti E, Oh DY, Fong L. CD4 + T cells in antitumor immunity. Trends Cancer 2024:S2405-8033(24)00157-2. [PMID: 39242276 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.07.009] [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: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Advances in cancer immunotherapy have transformed cancer care and realized unprecedented responses in many patients. The growing arsenal of novel therapeutics - including immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), adoptive T cell therapies (ACTs), and cancer vaccines - reflects the success of cancer immunotherapy. The therapeutic benefits of these treatment modalities are generally attributed to the enhanced quantity and quality of antitumor CD8+ T cell responses. Nevertheless, CD4+ T cells are now recognized to play key roles in both the priming and effector phases of the antitumor immune response. In addition to providing T cell help through co-stimulation and cytokine production, CD4+ T cells can also possess cytotoxicity either directly on MHC class II-expressing tumor cells or to other cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The presence of specific populations of CD4+ T cells, and their intrinsic plasticity, within the TME can represent an important determinant of clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies. Understanding how the antitumor functions of specific CD4+ T cell types are induced while limiting their protumorigenic attributes will enable more successful immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Montauti
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David Y Oh
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchison Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
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2
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Gao Q, Li N, Pan Y, Chu P, Zhou Y, Jia H, Cheng Y, Xue G, Song J, Zhang Y, Zhu H, Sun J, Zhang B, Sun Z, Fang D. Hepatocyte growth factor promotes melanoma metastasis through ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22-mediated integrins upregulation. Cancer Lett 2024:217196. [PMID: 39222676 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a critical role in promoting tumor migration, invasion, and metastasis, partly by upregulating integrins. The molecular mechanisms behind how HGF facilitates integrin-mediated tumorigenesis are not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrate that the ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) is essential for HGF-induced melanoma metastasis. HGF treatment dramatically increased the expression of both USP22 and multiple integrin family members in particular ITGAV, ITGB3, and ITGA1. An unbiased analysis of the TCGA database reveals integrins as common downstream targets of both USP22 and HGF across multiple human cancer types. Notably, CRISPR-mediated deletion of USP22 completely eliminates HGF-induced integrin expression in melanoma cells. At the molecular level, USP22 acts as a bona fide deubiquitinase for Sp1, a transcription factor for the ITGAV, ITGB3, and ITGA1 genes. USP22 interacts with and inhibits Sp1 ubiquitination, protecting against Sp1 proteasomal degradation. Supporting this, immunohistology analysis detects a positive correlation among USP22, Sp1, and integrin αv in human melanoma tissues. This study identifies the death from the signature gene USP22 as a critical positive regulator for HGF-induced integrin expression by deubiquitinating the Sp1 transcription factor during melanoma metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Na Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yujie Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Peng Chu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yuanzhang Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Huijun Jia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yang Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Guoqing Xue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Jiankun Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Houyu Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Jia Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Division, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Zhaolin Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.
| | - Deyu Fang
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Division, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.
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3
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Mani NL, Weinberg SE, Chaudhuri S, Montauti E, Tang A, Iyer R, Fang D. Acidity induces durable enhancement of T reg cell suppressive functions for tumor immune evasion. Mol Immunol 2024; 174:57-68. [PMID: 39213947 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2024.08.004] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The microenvironment within solid tumors often becomes acidic due to various factors associated with abnormal metabolism and cellular activities, including increased lactate production as a result of dysregulated tumor glycolysis. Recently, we have identified multiple tumor microenvironment (TME) factors that potentiate regulatory T (Treg) cell function in evading anti-tumor immunosurveillance. Despite the strong correlation between lactate and acidity, the potential roles of acidity in intratumoral Treg cell adaptation and underlying molecular mechanisms have gone largely unstudied. In this study, we demonstrate that acidity significantly enhances immunosuppressive functions of nTreg cells, but not iTreg cells, without altering the expression of either FoxP3 or the cell surface receptors CD25, CTLA4, or GITR in these cells. Surprisingly, the addition of lactate, often considered a major contributor to increased acidity of the TME, completely abolished the acidity-induced enhancement of nTreg suppressive functions. Consistently, metabolic flux analyses showed elevated basal mitochondrial respiratory capacity and ATP-coupled respiration in acidity-treated nTreg cells without altering glycolytic capacity. Genome-wide transcriptome and metabolomics analyses revealed alterations in multiple metabolic pathways, particularly the one-carbon folate metabolism pathway, with reduced SAM, folate, and glutathione, in nTreg cells exposed to low pH conditions. Addition of a one-carbon metabolic contributor, formate, diminished the acidity-induced enhancement in nTreg cell suppressive functions, but neither SAM nor glutathione could reverse the phenotype. Remarkably, in vitro transient treatment of nTreg cells resulted in sustained enhancement of their functions, as evidenced by more vigorous tumor growth observed in mice adoptively receiving acidity-treated nTreg cells. Further analysis of intratumoral infiltrated T cells confirmed a significant reduction in CD8+ T cell frequency and their granzyme B production. In summary, our study elucidates how acidity-mediated metabolic reprogramming leads to sustained Treg-mediated tumor immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita L Mani
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, USA; Center for Human Immunobiology, Northwestern University, USA
| | - Samuel E Weinberg
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, USA; Center for Human Immunobiology, Northwestern University, USA.
| | | | - Elena Montauti
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, USA; Department of Medicine Hematology and Oncology, University of California San Francisco, USA
| | - Amy Tang
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, USA; Center for Human Immunobiology, Northwestern University, USA
| | - Radhika Iyer
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, USA; Center for Human Immunobiology, Northwestern University, USA
| | - Deyu Fang
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, USA; Center for Human Immunobiology, Northwestern University, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, USA.
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4
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Zhou Y, Chu P, Wang Y, Li N, Gao Q, Wang S, Wei J, Xue G, Zhao Y, Jia H, Song J, Zhang Y, Pang Y, Zhu H, Sun J, Ma S, Su C, Hu B, Zhao Z, Zhang H, Lu J, Wang J, Wang H, Sun Z, Fang D. Epinephrine promotes breast cancer metastasis through a ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22-mediated lipolysis circuit. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eado1533. [PMID: 39151008 PMCID: PMC11328899 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/18/2024]
Abstract
Chronic stress-induced epinephrine (EPI) accelerates breast cancer progression and metastasis, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we found a strong positive correlation between circulating EPI levels and the tumoral expression of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) in patients with breast cancer. USP22 facilitated EPI-induced breast cancer progression and metastasis by enhancing adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL)-mediated lipolysis. Targeted USP22 deletion decreased ATGL expression and lipolysis, subsequently inhibiting EPI-mediated breast cancer lung metastasis. USP22 acts as a bona fide deubiquitinase for the Atgl gene transcription factor FOXO1, and EPI architects a lipolysis signaling pathway to stabilize USP22 through AKT-mediated phosphorylation. Notably, USP22 phosphorylation levels are positively associated with EPI and with downstream pathways involving both FOXO1 and ATGL in breast cancers. Pharmacological USP22 inhibition synergized with β-blockers in treating preclinical xenograft breast cancer models. This study reveals a molecular pathway behind EPI's tumor-promoting effects and provides a strong rationale for combining USP22 inhibition with β-blockers to treat aggressive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhang Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Peng Chu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
- Dalian College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Ya Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Qiong Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
- Department of Pathology & Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shengnan Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
- Department of Pathology & Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Juncheng Wei
- Department of Pathology & Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Guoqing Xue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian 116000, China
| | - Huijun Jia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Jiankun Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yujie Pang
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Houyu Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Jia Sun
- Dalian College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Suxian Ma
- Dalian College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Chen Su
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Bingjin Hu
- Dalian College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Zhuoyue Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Janice Lu
- Department of Medicine & Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Hongjiang Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Zhaolin Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
- Dalian College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Deyu Fang
- Department of Pathology & Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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5
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Zhen F, Sun Y, Wang H, Liu W, Liang X, Wang Y, Wang Q, Hu J. Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 22 Plays a Key Role in Increasing Extracellular Vesicle Secretion and Regulating Cell Motility of Lung Adenocarcinoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2405731. [PMID: 39101247 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202405731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are potential biomarkers for tumors, but their reliable molecular targets have not been identified. The previous study confirms that ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) promotes lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) metastasis in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, USP22 regulates endocytosis of tumor cells and localizes to late endosomes. However, the role of USP22 in the secretion of tumor cell-derived EVs remains unknown. In this study, it demonstrates that USP22 increases the secretion of tumor cell-derived EVs and accelerates their migration and invasion, invadopodia formation, and angiogenesis via EV transfer. USP22 enhances EV secretion by upregulating myosin IB (MYO1B). This study further discovers that USP22 activated the SRC signaling pathway by upregulating the molecule KDEL endoplasmic reticulum protein retention receptor 1 (KDELR1), thereby contributing to LUAD cell progression. The study provides novel insights into the role of USP22 in EV secretion and cell motility regulation in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zhen
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Yue Sun
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Hongyi Wang
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Xiao Liang
- Key laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, China
| | - Yaru Wang
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, No. 157 Baojian Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, China
| | - Jing Hu
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
- Key laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, China
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6
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Sun H, Meng Y, Yao L, Du S, Li Y, Zhou Q, Liu Y, Dian Y, Sun Y, Wang X, Liang X, Deng G, Chen X, Zeng F. Ubiquitin-specific protease 22 controls melanoma metastasis and vulnerability to ferroptosis through targeting SIRT1/PTEN/PI3K signaling. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e684. [PMID: 39135915 PMCID: PMC11318338 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is a major contributing factor that affects the prognosis of melanoma patients. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in melanoma metastasis are not yet entirely understood. Here, we identified ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) as a pro-oncogenic protein in melanoma through screening the survival profiles of 52 ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs). USP22 demonstrates a strong association with poor clinical outcomes and is significantly overexpressed in melanoma. Ablation of USP22 expression remarkably attenuates melanoma migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and suppresses melanoma metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, USP22 controls melanoma metastasis through the SIRT1/PTEN/PI3K pathway. In addition, we conducted an United States Food and Drug Administration-approved drug library screening and identified topotecan as a clinically applicable USP22-targeting molecule by promoting proteasomal degradation of USP22. Finally, we found that both pharmacological and genetic silence of USP22 sensitize RSL3-induced ferroptosis through suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and its downstream SCD, and ferroptosis inhibitor could partly rescued the decreased lung metastasis by topotecan in vivo. Overall, our findings reveal a prometastatic role of USP22 and identify topotecan as a potent USP22-targeting drug to limit melanoma metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyan Sun
- Department of DermatologyXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyChangshaChina
- Furong LaboratoryChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital)ChangshaChina
- Department of Breast ReconstructionTianjin Medical UniversityCancer Institute and HospitalTianjinChina
| | - Yu Meng
- Department of DermatologyXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyChangshaChina
- Furong LaboratoryChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital)ChangshaChina
| | - Lei Yao
- Department of Liver SurgeryXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Songtao Du
- Department of Colorectal Surgical OncologyThe Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Yayun Li
- Department of DermatologyThe Third Xiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Qian Zhou
- Department of DermatologyXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyChangshaChina
- Furong LaboratoryChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital)ChangshaChina
| | - Yihuang Liu
- Department of DermatologyXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyChangshaChina
- Furong LaboratoryChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital)ChangshaChina
| | - Yating Dian
- Department of DermatologyXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyChangshaChina
- Furong LaboratoryChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital)ChangshaChina
| | - Yuming Sun
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic SurgeryXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- Department of Breast SurgeryXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Xiao‐wei Liang
- Department of DermatologyXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyChangshaChina
- Furong LaboratoryChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital)ChangshaChina
| | - Guangtong Deng
- Department of DermatologyXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyChangshaChina
- Furong LaboratoryChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital)ChangshaChina
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of DermatologyXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyChangshaChina
- Furong LaboratoryChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital)ChangshaChina
| | - Furong Zeng
- Department of OncologyXiangya Hospital Central South UniversityChangshaChina
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Lu W, Chu P, Tang A, Si L, Fang D. The secoiridoid glycoside Gentiopicroside is a USP22 inhibitor with potent antitumor immunotherapeutic activity. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:116974. [PMID: 38968798 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116974] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, immunotherapies have brought about significant changes in how we approach the treatment of various solid tumors and blood-related cancers. However, the effectiveness of checkpoint blockade therapy has been constrained to a rate of under 30 %. A significant challenge in the realm of tumor immunotherapy revolves around comprehending the mechanisms through which regulatory T (Treg) cells induce immunosuppression. We have recently discovered that USP22 (ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22) a deubiquitinating enzyme that is increased in various tumors, is an oncogene and controls Treg immune suppressive activity for tumor evasion, providing a rationale for USP22 targeting to achieve both onco- and immuno-therapeutic efficacies. Herein, we identified the traditional Chinese secoiridoid compound gentiopicroside as a USP22 inhibitor. Gentiopicroside treatment decreased the forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) expression, which subsequently reduced Treg immune suppressive activity. Treatment of cancer cells by gentiopicroside resulted in an increase in histone 2B monoubiquitination (H2Bub) in a USP22-dependent manner and a decrease in programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, both of which are known as USP22-specific substrates. Docking and molecular dynamic simulation revealed that gentiopicroside stably binds to USP22 catalytic pocket, supporting that gentiopicroside is a USP22 inhibitor. Importantly, administration of gentiopicroside to mice significantly inhibited the growth of syngenetic lung adenocarcinoma. Further analysis of intratumoral immune cells revealed a dramatic increase CD8+ T cell production of IFN-γ and granzyme B (GZMB), confirming that gentiopicroside enhances antitumor immunity. Our study revealed that gentiopicroside is a USP22-specific inhibitor with potent antitumor therapeutic potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyuan Lu
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang 150028, China
| | - Peng Chu
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Amy Tang
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ligang Si
- Department of Pediatrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang 150028, China
| | - Deyu Fang
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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8
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Yue Y, Ren Y, Lu C, Li P, Zhang G. Epigenetic regulation of human FOXP3+ Tregs: from homeostasis maintenance to pathogen defense. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1444533. [PMID: 39144146 PMCID: PMC11323565 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1444533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs), characterized by the expression of Forkhead Box P3 (FOXP3), constitute a distinct subset of T cells crucial for immune regulation. Tregs can exert direct and indirect control over immune homeostasis by releasing inhibitory factors or differentiating into Th-like Treg (Th-Treg), thereby actively contributing to the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases. The epigenetic regulation of FOXP3, encompassing DNA methylation, histone modifications, and post-translational modifications, governs the development and optimal suppressive function of Tregs. In addition, Tregs can also possess the ability to maintain homeostasis in diverse microenvironments through non-suppressive mechanisms. In this review, we primarily focus on elucidating the epigenetic regulation of Tregs as well as their multifaceted roles within diverse physiological contexts while looking forward to potential strategies involving augmentation or suppression of Tregs activity for disease management, particularly in light of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Guojun Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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9
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Nie H, Yu Y, Wang F, Huang X, Wang H, Wang J, Tao M, Ning Y, Zhou J, Zhao Q, Xu F, Fang J. Comprehensive analysis of the relationship between ubiquitin-specific protease 21 (USP21) and prognosis, tumor microenvironment infiltration, and therapy response in colorectal cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:156. [PMID: 38834869 PMCID: PMC11150338 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03731-4] [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: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ubiquitin-specific proteases family is crucial to host immunity against pathogens. However, the correlations between USP21 and immunosurveillance and immunotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been reported. METHODS The differential expression of USP21 between CRC tissues and normal tissues was analyzed using multiple public databases. Validation was carried out in clinical samples through qRT-PCR and IHC. The correlation between USP21 and the prognosis, as well as clinical pathological characteristics of CRC patients, was investigated. Moreover, cell models were established to assess the influence of USP21 on CRC growth and progression, employing CCK-8 assays, colony formation assays, and wound-healing assays. Subsequently, gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was used to explore the potential biological functions of USP21 in CRC. The study also examined the impact of USP21 on cytokine levels and immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Finally, the effect of USP21 on the response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy in CRC was analyzed. RESULTS The expression of USP21 was significantly upregulated in CRC. High USP21 is correlated with poor prognosis in CRC patients and facilitates the proliferation and migration capacities of CRC cells. GSVA indicated an association between low USP21 and immune activation. Moreover, low USP21 was linked to an immune-activated TME, characterized by high immune cell infiltration. Importantly, CRC with low USP21 exhibited higher tumor mutational burden, high PD-L1 expression, and better responsiveness to immunotherapy and chemotherapeutic drugs. CONCLUSION This study revealed the role of USP21 in TME, response to therapy, and clinical prognosis in CRC, which provided novel insights for the therapeutic application in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihang Nie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yali Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xing Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haizhou Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mi Tao
- Department of Nephrology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yumei Ning
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - JingKai Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiu Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Fei Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Jun Fang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Department of General Medical, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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10
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Huang J, Yin Q, Wang Y, Zhou X, Guo Y, Tang Y, Cheng R, Yu X, Zhang J, Huang C, Huang Z, Zhang J, Guo Z, Huo X, Sun Y, Li Y, Wang H, Yang J, Xue L. EZH2 Inhibition Enhances PD-L1 Protein Stability Through USP22-Mediated Deubiquitination in Colorectal Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308045. [PMID: 38520088 PMCID: PMC11187912 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
The regulation of PD-L1 is the key question, which largely determines the outcome of the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) based therapy. However, besides the transcription level, the protein stability of PD-L1 is closely correlated with its function and has drawn increasing attention. In this study, EZH2 inhibition enhances PD-L1 expression and protein stability, and the deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) is identified as a key mediator in this process. EZH2 inhibition transcriptionally upregulates USP22 expression, and upregulated USP22 further stabilizes PD-L1. Importantly, a combination of EZH2 inhibitors with anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy improves the tumor microenvironment, enhances sensitivity to immunotherapy, and exerts synergistic anticancer effects. In addition, knocking down USP22 can potentially enhance the therapeutic efficacy of EZH2 inhibitors on colon cancer. These findings unveil the novel role of EZH2 inhibitors in tumor immune evasion by upregulating PD-L1, and this drawback can be compensated by combining ICI immunotherapy. Therefore, these findings provide valuable insights into the EZH2-USP22-PD-L1 regulatory axis, shedding light on the optimization of combining both immune checkpoint blockade and EZH2 inhibitor-based epigenetic therapies to achieve more efficacies and accuracy in cancer treatment.
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11
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Mortezaee K. FOXP3 (in)stability and cancer immunotherapy. Cytokine 2024; 178:156589. [PMID: 38547750 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2024.156589] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is described in the context of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) is a transcription factor that its activity is an indicator of Treg identity. FOXP3 induces metabolic versatility in intra-tumoral Tregs, so that its deficiency mediates Treg instability or even gives rise to the acquisition of effector T cell phenotype. FOXP3 dysregulation and defectiveness occurs upon ubiquitination, methylation and presumably acetylation. Stimulators of PTEN, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2), and nucleus accumbens-associated protein-1 (NAC1), and inhibitors of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1), Deltex1 (DTX1) and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) are suggested to hamper FOXP3 stability, and to promote its downregulation and further Treg depletion. A point is that Treg subsets reveal different reliance on FOXP3, which indicates that not all Tregs are strictly dependent on FOXP3, and presumably Tregs with different origin rely on diverse regulators of FOXP3 stability. The focus of this review is over the current understanding toward FOXP3, its activity in Tregs and influence from different regulators within tumor microenvironment (TME). Implication of FOXP3 targeting in cancer immunotherapy is another focus of this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keywan Mortezaee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
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12
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Cao X, Yan Z, Chen Z, Ge Y, Hu X, Peng F, Huang W, Zhang P, Sun R, Chen J, Ding M, Zong D, He X. The Emerging Role of Deubiquitinases in Radiosensitivity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2024; 118:1347-1370. [PMID: 38092257 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Radiation therapy is a primary treatment for cancer, but radioresistance remains a significant challenge in improving efficacy and reducing toxicity. Accumulating evidence suggests that deubiquitinases (DUBs) play a crucial role in regulating cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Traditional small-molecule DUB inhibitors have demonstrated radiosensitization effects, and novel deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs) provide a promising strategy for radiosensitizer development by harnessing the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This review highlights the mechanisms by which DUBs regulate radiosensitivity, including DNA damage repair, the cell cycle, cell death, and hypoxia. Progress on DUB inhibitors and DUBTACs is summarized, and their potential radiosensitization effects are discussed. Developing drugs targeting DUBs appears to be a promising alternative approach to overcoming radioresistance, warranting further research into their mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Cao
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhenyu Yan
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zihan Chen
- Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yizhi Ge
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fanyu Peng
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenxuan Huang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Pingchuan Zhang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruozhou Sun
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiazhen Chen
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingjun Ding
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dan Zong
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xia He
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China; Department of Environmental Genomics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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13
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Chaudhuri SM, Weinberg SE, Wang D, Yalom LK, Montauti E, Iyer R, Tang AY, Torres Acosta MA, Shen J, Mani NL, Wang S, Liu K, Lu W, Bui TM, Manzanares LD, Dehghani Z, Wai CM, Gao B, Wei J, Yue F, Cui W, Singer BD, Sumagin R, Zhang Y, Fang D. Mediator complex subunit 1 architects a tumorigenic Treg cell program independent of inflammation. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101441. [PMID: 38428427 PMCID: PMC10983042 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101441] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
While immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, its safety has been hampered by immunotherapy-related adverse events. Unexpectedly, we show that Mediator complex subunit 1 (MED1) is required for T regulatory (Treg) cell function specifically in the tumor microenvironment. Treg cell-specific MED1 deletion does not predispose mice to autoimmunity or excessive inflammation. In contrast, MED1 is required for Treg cell promotion of tumor growth because MED1 is required for the terminal differentiation of effector Treg cells in the tumor. Suppression of these terminally differentiated Treg cells is sufficient for eliciting antitumor immunity. Both human and murine Treg cells experience divergent paths of differentiation in tumors and matched tissues with non-malignant inflammation. Collectively, we identify a pathway promoting the differentiation of a Treg cell effector subset specific to tumors and demonstrate that suppression of a subset of Treg cells is sufficient for promoting antitumor immunity in the absence of autoimmune consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuvam M Chaudhuri
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Samuel E Weinberg
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Dongmei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lenore K Yalom
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Elena Montauti
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Radhika Iyer
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Amy Y Tang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Manuel A Torres Acosta
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jian Shen
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Nikita L Mani
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Shengnan Wang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Kun Liu
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Weiyuan Lu
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Triet M Bui
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Laura D Manzanares
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Zeinab Dehghani
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ching Man Wai
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Beixue Gao
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Juncheng Wei
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Feng Yue
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Weiguo Cui
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Benjamin D Singer
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ronen Sumagin
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yana Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Deyu Fang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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14
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Xia Y, Gao D, Wang X, Liu B, Shan X, Sun Y, Ma D. Role of Treg cell subsets in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1331609. [PMID: 38558816 PMCID: PMC10978666 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1331609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
In the genesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases involving both innate and adaptive immune responses, inflammation plays a pivotal and dual role. Studies in experimental animals indicate that certain immune responses are protective, while others exacerbate the disease. T-helper (Th) 1 cell immune responses are recognized as key drivers of inflammatory progression in cardiovascular diseases. Consequently, the CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are gaining increasing attention for their roles in inflammation and immune regulation. Given the critical role of Tregs in maintaining immune-inflammatory balance and homeostasis, abnormalities in their generation or function might lead to aberrant immune responses, thereby initiating pathological changes. Numerous preclinical studies and clinical trials have unveiled the central role of Tregs in cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Here, we review the roles and mechanisms of Treg subsets in cardiovascular conditions like atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction and remodeling, myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. While the precise molecular mechanisms of Tregs in cardiac protection remain elusive, therapeutic strategies targeting Tregs present a promising new direction for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yunpeng Sun
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dashi Ma
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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15
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Long X, Zhang S, Wang Y, Chen J, Lu Y, Hou H, Lin B, Li X, Shen C, Yang R, Zhu H, Cui R, Cao D, Chen G, Wang D, Chen Y, Zhai S, Zeng Z, Wu S, Lou M, Chen J, Zou J, Zheng M, Qin J, Wang X. Targeting JMJD1C to selectively disrupt tumor T reg cell fitness enhances antitumor immunity. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:525-536. [PMID: 38356061 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01746-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical for immune tolerance but also form a barrier to antitumor immunity. As therapeutic strategies involving Treg cell depletion are limited by concurrent autoimmune disorders, identification of intratumoral Treg cell-specific regulatory mechanisms is needed for selective targeting. Epigenetic modulators can be targeted with small compounds, but intratumoral Treg cell-specific epigenetic regulators have been unexplored. Here, we show that JMJD1C, a histone demethylase upregulated by cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, is essential for tumor Treg cell fitness but dispensable for systemic immune homeostasis. JMJD1C deletion enhanced AKT signals in a manner dependent on histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) demethylase and STAT3 signals independently of H3K9me2 demethylase, leading to robust interferon-γ production and tumor Treg cell fragility. We have also developed an oral JMJD1C inhibitor that suppresses tumor growth by targeting intratumoral Treg cells. Overall, this study identifies JMJD1C as an epigenetic hub that can integrate signals to establish tumor Treg cell fitness, and we present a specific JMJD1C inhibitor that can target tumor Treg cells without affecting systemic immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehui Long
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sulin Zhang
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuliang Wang
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingjing Chen
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanlai Lu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Hou
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bichun Lin
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xutong Li
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang Shen
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruirui Yang
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Huamin Zhu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongrong Cui
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Duanhua Cao
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Geng Chen
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sulan Zhai
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiqin Zeng
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shusheng Wu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengting Lou
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junhong Chen
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Zou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Mingyue Zheng
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jun Qin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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16
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Prokakis E, Bamahmoud H, Jansari S, Fritsche L, Dietz A, Boshnakovska A, Rehling P, Johnsen SA, Gallwas J, Wegwitz F. USP22 supports the aggressive behavior of basal-like breast cancer by stimulating cellular respiration. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:120. [PMID: 38347585 PMCID: PMC10863169 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01441-5] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent tumor entity in women worldwide with a high chance of therapeutic response in early- and non-metastatic disease stages. Among all BC subtypes, triple-negative BC (TNBC) is the most challenging cancer subtype lacking effective molecular targets due to the particular enrichment of cancer stem cells (CSCs), frequently leading to a chemoresistant phenotype and metastasis. The Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 22 (USP22) is a deubiquitinase that has been frequently associated with a CSC-promoting function and intimately implicated in resistance to conventional therapies, tumor relapse, metastasis and overall poor survival in a broad range of cancer entities, including BC. To date, though, the role of USP22 in TNBC has been only superficially addressed. METHODS The current study utilized the MMTV-cre, Usp22fl/fl transgenic mouse model to study the involvement of USP22 in the stem cell-like properties of the growing mammary tissue. Additionally, we combined high-throughput transcriptomic analyses with publicly available patient transcriptomic data and utilized TNBC culture models to decipher the functional role of USP22 in the CSC characteristics of this disease. RESULTS Interestingly, we identified that USP22 promotes CSC properties and drug tolerance by supporting the oxidative phosphorylation program, known to be largely responsible for the poor response to conventional therapies in this particularly aggressive BC subtype. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests a novel tumor-supportive role of USP22 in sustaining cellular respiration to facilitate the drug-tolerant behavior of HER2+-BC and TNBC cells. Therefore, we posit USP22 as a promising therapeutic target to optimize standard therapies and combat the aggressiveness of these malignancies. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Prokakis
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- Department of General, Visceral & Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Husam Bamahmoud
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shaishavi Jansari
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lena Fritsche
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Dietz
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Angela Boshnakovska
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter Rehling
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Steven A Johnsen
- Department of General, Visceral & Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- The Robert Bosch Center for Tumor Diseases, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Julia Gallwas
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian Wegwitz
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- Department of General, Visceral & Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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17
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Kuang X, Salinger A, Benavides F, Muller WJ, Dent SYR, Koutelou E. USP22 overexpression fails to augment tumor formation in MMTV-ERBB2 mice but loss of function impacts MMTV promoter activity. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0290837. [PMID: 38236941 PMCID: PMC10796002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 22 (USP22), a component of the Spt-Ada-Gcn5 Acetyltransferase (SAGA) histone modifying complex, is overexpressed in multiple human cancers, but how USP22 impacts tumorigenesis is not clear. We reported previously that Usp22 loss in mice impacts execution of several signaling pathways driven by growth factor receptors such as erythroblastic oncogene B b2 (ERBB2). To determine whether changes in USP22 expression affects ERBB2-driven tumorigenesis, we introduced conditional overexpression or deletion alleles of Usp22 into mice bearing the Mouse mammary tumor virus-Neu-Ires-Cre (MMTV-NIC) transgene, which drives both rat ERBB2/NEU expression and Cre recombinase activity from the MMTV promoter resulting in mammary tumor formation. We found that USP22 overexpression in mammary glands did not further enhance primary tumorigenesis in MMTV-NIC female mice, but increased lung metastases were observed. However, deletion of Usp22 significantly decreased tumor burden and increased survival of MMTV-NIC mice. These effects were associated with markedly decreased levels of both Erbb2 mRNA and protein, indicating Usp22 loss impacts MMTV promoter activity. Usp22 loss had no impact on ERBB2 expression in other settings, including MCF10A cells bearing a Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-driven ERBB2 transgene or in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)+ human SKBR3 and HCC1953 cells. Decreased activity of the MMTV promoter in MMTV-NIC mice correlated with decreased expression of known regulatory factors, including the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the progesterone receptor (PR), and the chromatin remodeling factor Brahma-related gene-1 (BRG1). Together our findings indicate that increased expression of USP22 does not augment the activity of an activated ERBB2/NEU transgene but impacts of Usp22 loss on tumorigenesis cannot be assessed in this model due to unexpected effects on MMTV-driven Erbb2/Neu expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghong Kuang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Andrew Salinger
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Fernando Benavides
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - William J. Muller
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sharon Y. R. Dent
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center/UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Evangelia Koutelou
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
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18
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Gao C, Zhu H, Gong P, Wu C, Xu X, Zhu X. The functions of FOXP transcription factors and their regulation by post-translational modifications. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2023; 1866:194992. [PMID: 37797785 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The forkhead box subfamily P (FOXP) of transcription factors, consisting of FOXP1, FOXP2, FOXP3, and FOXP4, is involved in the regulation of multisystemic functioning. Disruption of the transcriptional activity of FOXP proteins leads to neurodevelopmental disorders and immunological diseases, as well as the suppression or promotion of carcinogenesis. The transcriptional activities of FOXP proteins are directly or indirectly regulated by diverse post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, acetylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and methylation. Here, we discuss how post-translational modifications modulate the multiple functions of FOXP proteins and examine the implications for tumorigenesis and cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congwen Gao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China; College of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Honglin Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Peng Gong
- Department of General Surgery & Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors & Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Chen Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Xingzhi Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China.
| | - Xuefei Zhu
- Department of General Surgery & Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors & Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China.
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19
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Zhang Y, Song J, Zhou Y, Jia H, Zhou T, Sun Y, Gao Q, Zhao Y, Pan Y, Sun Z, Chu P. Discovery of selective and potent USP22 inhibitors via structure-based virtual screening and bioassays exerting anti-tumor activity. Bioorg Chem 2023; 141:106842. [PMID: 37769523 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106842] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) plays a prominent role in tumor development, invasion, metastasis and immune reprogramming, which has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target for cancer. Herein, we employed a structure-based discovery and biological evaluation and discovered that Rottlerin (IC50 = 2.53 μM) and Morusin (IC50 = 8.29 μM) and as selective and potent USP22 inhibitors. Treatment of HCT116 cells and A375 cells with each of the two compounds resulted in increased monoubiquitination of histones H2A and H2B, as well as reduced protein expression levels of Sirt1 and PD-L1, all of which are known as USP22 substrates. Additionally, our study demonstrated that the administration of Rottlerin or Morusin resulted in an increase H2Bub levels, while simultaneously reducing the expression of Sirt1 and PD-L1 in a manner dependent on USP22. Furthermore, Rottlerin and Morusin were found to enhance the degradation of PD-L1 and Sirt1, as well as increase the polyubiquitination of endogenous PD-L1 and Sirt1 in HCT116 cells. Moreover, in an in vivo syngeneic tumor model, Rottlerin and Morusin exhibited potent antitumor activity, which was accompanied by an enhanced infiltration of T cells into the tumor tissues. Using in-depth molecular dynamics (MD) and binding free energy calculation, conserved residue Leu475 and non-conserved residue Arg419 were proven to be crucial for the binding affinity and inhibitory function of USP22 inhibitors. In summary, our study established a highly efficient approach for USP22-specific inhibitor discovery, which lead to identification of two selective and potent USP22 inhibitors as potential drugs in anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Jiankun Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yuanzhang Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Huijun Jia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Tianyu Zhou
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yingbo Sun
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Qiong Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yujie Pan
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Zhaolin Sun
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.
| | - Peng Chu
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.
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20
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Friebus-Kardash J, Christ TC, Dietlein N, Elwy A, Abdelrahman H, Holnsteiner L, Hu Z, Rodewald HR, Lang KS. Usp22 Deficiency Leads to Downregulation of PD-L1 and Pathological Activation of CD8 + T Cells and Causes Immunopathology in Response to Acute LCMV Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1563. [PMID: 37896966 PMCID: PMC10610587 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101563] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (Usp22) cleaves ubiquitin moieties from numerous proteins, including histone H2B and transcription factors. Recently, it was reported that Usp22 acts as a negative regulator of interferon-dependent responses. In the current study, we investigated the role of Usp22 deficiency in acute viral infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). We found that the lack of Usp22 on bone marrow-derived cells (Usp22fl/fl Vav1-Cre mice) reduced the induction of type I and II interferons. A limited type I interferon response did not influence virus replication. However, restricted expression of PD-L1 led to increased frequencies of functional virus-specific CD8+ T cells and rapid death of Usp22-deficient mice. CD8+ T cell depletion experiments revealed that accelerated CD8+ T cells were responsible for enhanced lethality in Usp22 deficient mice. In conclusion, we found that the lack of Usp22 generated a pathological CD8+ T cell response, which gave rise to severe disease in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justa Friebus-Kardash
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (T.C.C.); (A.E.); (H.A.); (L.H.); (Z.H.); (K.S.L.)
- Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Theresa Charlotte Christ
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (T.C.C.); (A.E.); (H.A.); (L.H.); (Z.H.); (K.S.L.)
| | - Nikolaus Dietlein
- Division of Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (N.D.)
| | - Abdelrahman Elwy
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (T.C.C.); (A.E.); (H.A.); (L.H.); (Z.H.); (K.S.L.)
| | - Hossam Abdelrahman
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (T.C.C.); (A.E.); (H.A.); (L.H.); (Z.H.); (K.S.L.)
| | - Lisa Holnsteiner
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (T.C.C.); (A.E.); (H.A.); (L.H.); (Z.H.); (K.S.L.)
| | - Zhongwen Hu
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (T.C.C.); (A.E.); (H.A.); (L.H.); (Z.H.); (K.S.L.)
| | - Hans-Reimer Rodewald
- Division of Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (N.D.)
| | - Karl Sebastian Lang
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (T.C.C.); (A.E.); (H.A.); (L.H.); (Z.H.); (K.S.L.)
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21
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Gao H, Yin J, Ji C, Yu X, Xue J, Guan X, Zhang S, Liu X, Xing F. Targeting ubiquitin specific proteases (USPs) in cancer immunotherapy: from basic research to preclinical application. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:225. [PMID: 37658402 PMCID: PMC10472646 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02805-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors have evolved in various mechanisms to evade the immune system, hindering the antitumor immune response and facilitating tumor progression. Immunotherapy has become a potential treatment strategy specific to different cancer types by utilizing multifarious molecular mechanisms to enhance the immune response against tumors. Among these mechanisms, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a significant non-lysosomal pathway specific to protein degradation, regulated by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that counterbalance ubiquitin signaling. Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs), the largest DUB family with the strongest variety, play critical roles in modulating immune cell function, regulating immune response, and participating in antigen processing and presentation during tumor progression. According to recent studies, the expressions of some USP family members in tumor cells are involved in tumor immune escape and immune microenvironment. This review explores the potential of targeting USPs as a new approach for cancer immunotherapy, highlighting recent basic and preclinical studies investigating the applications of USP inhibitors. By providing insights into the structure and function of USPs in cancer immunity, this review aims at assisting in developing new therapeutic approaches for enhancing the immunotherapy efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Jianqiao Yin
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Ce Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Jinqi Xue
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xun Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
| | - Fei Xing
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
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22
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Liu K, Gao Q, Jia Y, Wei J, Chaudhuri S, Wang S, Tang A, Mani N, Iyer R, Cheng Y, Gao B, Lu W, Sun Z, Liu H, Fang D. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 controls integrin-dependent cancer cell stemness and metastasis. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2922367. [PMID: 37398311 PMCID: PMC10312927 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2922367/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Integrins plays critical roles in connecting the extracellular matrix and actin skeleton for cell adhesion, migration, signal transduction, and gene transcription, which upregulation is involved in cancer stemness and metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying how integrins are upregulated in cancer stem cells (CSCs) remain as a biomedical mystery. Herein, we show that the death from cancer signature gene USP22 is essential to maintain the stemness of breast cancer cells through promoting the transcription of a group of integrin family members in particular integrin β1 (ITGB1). Both genetic and pharmacological USP22 inhibition largely impaired breast cancer stem cell self-renewal and prevented their metastasis. Integrin β1 reconstitution partially rescued USP22-null breast cancer stemness and their metastasis. At the molecular level, USP22 functions as a bona fide deubiquitinase to protect the proteasomal degradation of the forkhead box M1 (FoxM1), a transcription factor for tumoral ITGB1 gene transcription. Importantly unbiased analysis of the TCGA database revealed a strong positive correlation between the death from cancer signature gene ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) and ITGB1, both of which are critical for cancer stemness, in more than 90% of human cancer types, implying that USP22 functions as a key factor to maintain stemness for a broad spectrum of human cancer types possibly through regulating ITGB1. To support this notion, immunohistochemistry staining detected a positive correlation among USP22, FoxM1 and integrin β1 in human breast cancers. Collectively, our study identifies the USP22-FoxM1-integrin β1 signaling axis critical for cancer stemness and offers a potential target for antitumor therapy.
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23
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Tumor Vasculature as an Emerging Pharmacological Target to Promote Anti-Tumor Immunity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054422. [PMID: 36901858 PMCID: PMC10002465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor vasculature abnormality creates a microenvironment that is not suitable for anti-tumor immune response and thereby induces resistance to immunotherapy. Remodeling of dysfunctional tumor blood vessels by anti-angiogenic approaches, known as vascular normalization, reshapes the tumor microenvironment toward an immune-favorable one and improves the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The tumor vasculature serves as a potential pharmacological target with the capacity of promoting an anti-tumor immune response. In this review, the molecular mechanisms involved in tumor vascular microenvironment-modulated immune reactions are summarized. In addition, the evidence of pre-clinical and clinical studies for the combined targeting of pro-angiogenic signaling and immune checkpoint molecules with therapeutic potential are highlighted. The heterogeneity of endothelial cells in tumors that regulate tissue-specific immune responses is also discussed. The crosstalk between tumor endothelial cells and immune cells in individual tissues is postulated to have a unique molecular signature and may be considered as a potential target for the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches.
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