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Gao H, Xi Z, Dai J, Xue J, Guan X, Zhao L, Chen Z, Xing F. Drug resistance mechanisms and treatment strategies mediated by Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases (USPs) in cancers: new directions and therapeutic options. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:88. [PMID: 38702734 PMCID: PMC11067278 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02005-y] [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: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance represents a significant obstacle in cancer treatment, underscoring the need for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets. Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs), a subclass of deubiquitinating enzymes, play a pivotal role in protein deubiquitination. As scientific research advances, USPs have been recognized as key regulators of drug resistance across a spectrum of treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. This comprehensive review examines the complex relationship between USPs and drug resistance mechanisms, focusing on specific treatment strategies and highlighting the influence of USPs on DNA damage repair, apoptosis, characteristics of cancer stem cells, immune evasion, and other crucial biological functions. Additionally, the review highlights the potential clinical significance of USP inhibitors as a means to counter drug resistance in cancer treatment. By inhibiting particular USP, cancer cells can become more susceptible to a variety of anti-cancer drugs. The integration of USP inhibitors with current anti-cancer therapies offers a promising strategy to circumvent drug resistance. Therefore, this review emphasizes the importance of USPs as viable therapeutic targets and offers insight into fruitful directions for future research and drug development. Targeting USPs presents an effective method to combat drug resistance across various cancer types, leading to enhanced treatment strategies and better patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Zhuo Xi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Jingwei Dai
- Department of Neurosurgery, 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
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
| | - Zhiguang Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, 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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Gong X, Jia L, Zhou L, Hu T. USP14 predicts poorer survival outcomes and promotes tumor progression in endometrial carcinoma by activating NF-κB signaling. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:12120-12135. [PMID: 37917013 PMCID: PMC10683613 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205168] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14), a member of the USP family, which catalyzes ubiquitin cleavage from a range of protein substrates, has been found dysregulated in several cancers. Our aim is to explore the functions and mechanism of USP14 in endometrial carcinoma (EC). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot (WB) were used to assess USP14 levels in EC tissues and adjacent nontumor tissues. USP14 overexpression or knockdown models were adopted to determine USP14-mediated effects on EC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The xenograft tumor experiment checked the effect of USP14 overexpression on tumor cell growth. Furthermore, the upstream signaling pathway of USP14 was predicted by bioinformatics. Consequently, EC tissues exhibited USP14 overexpression compared to normal paracancerous nontumor tissues. USP14 presence was linked to an adverse prognosis in EC cases. Functionally, USP14 overexpression reduced apoptosis and increased cell migration, invasion, and EMT in vivo and ex vivo. USP14 knockdown had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, NF-κB pathway activation occurred through the inhibitory effect of USP14 on I-κB expression. Conversely, NF-κB pathway inhibition attenuated USP14-mediated carcinogenic effects. Additionally, there existed a binding interaction between miR-124-3p and the 3'-UTR of USP14, resulting in USP14 activity inhibition. In summary, our research indicates that the involvement of miR-124-3p in USP14 regulation contributes to exacerbated EC progression through NF-κB pathway activation. The modulation of this pathway may be a new strategy for treating EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojin Gong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China
| | - Li Jia
- Department of Gynecology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing 400021, China
| | - Lili Zhou
- Department of Nursing, Hejiang People’s Hospital, Luzhou, Sichuan 646200, China
| | - Tongxiu Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China
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3
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Wu T, Li C, Zhou C, Niu X, Li G, Zhou Y, Gu X, Cui H. Inhibition of USP14 enhances anti-tumor effect in vemurafenib-resistant melanoma by regulation of Skp2. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:2381-2399. [PMID: 35648318 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-022-09729-x] [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: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mutation of BRAF V600E often occurred in melanoma and results in tumorigenesis. BRAF mutation drives hyperactivation of the RAF-MAPK-ERK pathway. The acquired drug resistance upon prolonged use of BRAF inhibitors (such as vemurafenib) still remains the main obstacle. Previously, we have found that E3 ligase Skp2 over-expresses vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells, and knockdown of Skp2 enhances the anti-tumor effect of vemurafenib. Interestingly, the literature has reported that the selective USP14/UCHL5 inhibitor b-AP15 displays great potential in melanoma therapy; however, the molecular mechanism still remains unknown. METHODS In vitro, the effect of the combination regimen of vemurafenib (Vem, PLX4032) and b-AP15 on vem-sensitive and vem-resistant melanoma has been investigated by wound healing, colony formation, transwell invasion assay, flow cytometry, lysosome staining, and ROS detection. In vivo, the combination effect on vem-resistant melanoma has been evaluated with a nude mice xenograft tumor model. GST-pulldown and co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assays have been applied to investigate the interactions between USP14, UCHL5, and Skp2. Cycloheximide (CHX) assay and ubiquitination assays have been used to explore the effect of USP14 on Skp2 protein half-life and ubiquitination status. RESULTS In the present study, we have revealed that repression of USP14 sensitizes vemurafenib resistance in melanoma through a previously unappreciated mechanism that USP14 but not UCHL5 stabilizes Skp2, blocking its ubiquitination. K119 on Skp2 is required for USP14-mediated deubiquitination and stabilization of Skp2. Furthermore, the mutated catalytic activity amino acid cysteine (C) 114 on USP14 abrogates stabilization of Skp2. Stabilization of Skp2 is required for USP14 to negatively regulate autophagy. The combination regimen of Skp2 inhibitor vemurafenib and USP14/UCHL5 inhibitor b-AP15 dramatically inhibits cell viability, migration, invasion, and colony formation in vemurafenib-sensitive and vemurafenib-resistant melanoma. Vemurafenib and b-AP15 hold cells in the S phase thus leading to apoptosis as well as the formation of the autophagic vacuole in vemurafenib-resistant SKMEL28 cells. The enhanced proliferation effect of USP14 and Skp2 is mainly due to a more effective reduction of cell apoptosis and autophagy. Further evaluation of various protein alterations has revealed that the increased expression of cleaved-PARP, LC3, and decreased Ki67 are more obvious in the combination of vemurafenib and b-AP15 treatment than those in single-drug treatment. Moreover, the co-treatment of vemurafenib and b-AP15 dramatically inhibits the growth of vemurafenib-resistant melanoma xenograft in vivo. Collectively, our findings have demonstrated that the combination of Skp2 inhibitor and USP14 inhibitor provides a new solution for the treatment of BRAF inhibitor resistance melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wu
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Chengyun Li
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Changlong Zhou
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xiaxia Niu
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Gege Li
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yali Zhou
- Cuiying Biomedical Research Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Xinsheng Gu
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China.
| | - Hongmei Cui
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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Karapurkar JK, Kim MS, Colaco JC, Suresh B, Sarodaya N, Kim DH, Park CH, Hong SH, Kim KS, Ramakrishna S. CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-wide screening of the deubiquitinase subfamily identifies USP3 as a protein stabilizer of REST blocking neuronal differentiation and promotes neuroblastoma tumorigenesis. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:121. [PMID: 37170124 PMCID: PMC10176696 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02694-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST), a master transcriptional repressor, is essential for maintenance, self-renewal, and differentiation in neuroblastoma. An elevated expression of REST is associated with impaired neuronal differentiation, which results in aggressive neuroblastoma formation. E3 ligases are known to regulate REST protein abundance through the 26 S proteasomal degradation pathway in neuroblastoma. However, deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), which counteract the function of E3 ligase-mediated REST protein degradation and their impact on neuroblastoma tumorigenesis have remained unexplored. METHODS We employed a CRISPR/Cas9 system to perform a genome-wide knockout of ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) and used western blot analysis to screen for DUBs that regulate REST protein abundance. The interaction between USP3 and REST was confirmed by immunoprecipitation and Duolink in situ proximity assays. The deubiquitinating effect of USP3 on REST protein degradation, half-life, and neuronal differentiation was validated by immunoprecipitation, in vitro deubiquitination, protein-turnover, and immunostaining assays. The correlation between USP3 and REST expression was assessed using patient neuroblastoma datasets. The USP3 gene knockout in neuroblastoma cells was performed using CRISPR/Cas9, and the clinical relevance of USP3 regulating REST-mediated neuroblastoma tumorigenesis was confirmed by in vitro and in vivo oncogenic experiments. RESULTS We identified a deubiquitinase USP3 that interacts with, stabilizes, and increases the half-life of REST protein by counteracting its ubiquitination in neuroblastoma. An in silico analysis showed a correlation between USP3 and REST in multiple neuroblastoma cell lines and identified USP3 as a prognostic marker for overall survival in neuroblastoma patients. Silencing of USP3 led to a decreased self-renewal capacity and promoted retinoic acid-induced differentiation in neuroblastoma. A loss of USP3 led to attenuation of REST-mediated neuroblastoma tumorigenesis in a mouse xenograft model. CONCLUSION The findings of this study indicate that USP3 is a critical factor that blocks neuronal differentiation, which can lead to neuroblastoma. We envision that targeting USP3 in neuroblastoma tumors might provide an effective therapeutic differentiation strategy for improved survival rates of neuroblastoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Min-Seong Kim
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Jencia Carminha Colaco
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Bharathi Suresh
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Neha Sarodaya
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Dong-Ho Kim
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Chang-Hwan Park
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
- College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Seok-Ho Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Kye-Seong Kim
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.
- College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.
| | - Suresh Ramakrishna
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.
- College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.
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5
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Jiang L, He Q, Chen X, Liu A, Ding W, Zhang H, Chen X, Zhou H, Meng Y, Liu B, Peng G, Wang C, Liu J, Shi X. Inhibition of proteasomal deubiquitinases USP14 and UCHL5 overcomes tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in chronic myeloid leukaemia. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e1038. [PMID: 36082692 PMCID: PMC9460481 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a haematological cancer featured by the presence of BCR‐ABL fusion protein with abnormal tyrosine kinase activation. Classical tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)‐based therapies are available to patients with CML. However, acquired resistance to TKI has been a challenging obstacle, especially stubborn T315I mutation is the most common cause. Therefore, it is especially urgent to find more effective targets to overcome TKI resistance induced by BCR‐ABLT315I. Proteasomal deubiquitinases (USP14 and UCHL5) have fundamental roles in the ubiquitin‐proteasome system and possess multiple functions during cancer progression. Methods The human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected to measure the mRNA expression of USP14 and UCHL5, as well as to detect the toxicity effect of b‐AP15. We explored the effect of b‐AP15 on the activity of proteasomal deubiquitinases. We detected the effects of b‐AP15 on BCR‐ABLWT and BCR‐ABLT315I CML cells in vitro and in the subcutaneous tumour model. We knocked down USP14 and/or UCHL5 by shRNA to explore whether these proteasomal deubiquitinases are required for cell proliferation of CML. Results In this study, we found that increased expression of the proteasomal deubiquitinase USP14 and UCHL5 in primary cancer cells from CML patients compared to healthy donors. b‐AP15, an inhibitor of USP14 and UCHL5, exhibited potent tumour‐killing activity in BCR‐ABLWT and BCR‐ABLT315I CML cell lines, as well as in CML xenografts and primary CML cells. Mechanically, pharmacological or genetic inhibition of USP14 and UCHL5 induced cell apoptosis and decreased the protein level of BCR‐ABL in CML cells expressing BCR‐ABLWT and BCR‐ABLT315I. Moreover, b‐AP15 synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic effect caused by TKI imatinib in BCR‐ABLWT and BCR‐ABLT315I CML cells. Conclusion Collectively, our results demonstrate targeting USP14 and UCHL5 as a potential strategy for combating TKI resistance in CML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liling Jiang
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China.,The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, P.R. China
| | - Qingyan He
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xin Chen
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Aochu Liu
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Wa Ding
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Haichuan Zhang
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xinmei Chen
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Huan Zhou
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yi Meng
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Bingyuan Liu
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Guanjie Peng
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- Depatrment of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jinbao Liu
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xianping Shi
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
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Guo JN, Xia BR, Deng SH, Yang C, Pi YN, Cui BB, Jin WL. Deubiquitinating Enzymes Orchestrate the Cancer Stem Cell-Immunosuppressive Niche Dialogue: New Perspectives and Therapeutic Potential. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:680100. [PMID: 34179009 PMCID: PMC8220152 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.680100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are sparks for igniting tumor recurrence and the instigators of low response to immunotherapy and drug resistance. As one of the important components of tumor microenvironment, the tumor associated immune microenvironment (TAIM) is driving force for the heterogeneity, plasticity and evolution of CSCs. CSCs create the inhibitory TAIM (ITAIM) mainly through four stemness-related signals (SRSs), including Notch-nuclear factor-κB axis, Hedgehog, Wnt and signal transducer and activator of transcription. Ubiquitination and deubiquitination in proteins related to the specific stemness of the CSCs have a profound impact on the regulation of ITAIM. In regulating the balance between ubiquitination and deubiquitination, it is crucial for deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) to cleave ubiquitin chains from substrates. Ubiquitin-specific peptidases (USPs) comprise the largest family of DUBs. Growing evidence suggests that they play novel functions in contribution of ITAIM, including regulating tumor immunogenicity, activating stem cell factors, upregulating the SRSs, stabilizing anti-inflammatory receptors, and regulating anti-inflammatory cytokines. These overactive or abnormal signaling may dampen antitumor immune responses. The inhibition of USPs could play a regulatory role in SRSs and reversing ITAIM, and also have great potential in improving immune killing ability against tumor cells, including CSCs. In this review, we focus on the USPs involved in CSCs signaling pathways and regulating ITAIM, which are promising therapeutic targets in antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Nan Guo
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Bai-Rong Xia
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Shen-Hui Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chang Yang
- Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Ya-Nan Pi
- Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Bin-Bin Cui
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Wei-Lin Jin
- Medical Frontier Innovation Research Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Institute of Cancer Neuroscience, The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Iuliano L, Drioli S, Pignochino Y, Cafiero CM, Minisini M, D'Este F, Picco R, Dalla E, Giordano G, Grignani G, Di Giorgio E, Benedetti F, Felluga F, Brancolini C. Enhancing Proteotoxic Stress in Leiomyosarcoma Cells Triggers Mitochondrial Dysfunctions, Cell Death, and Antitumor Activity in vivo. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1039-1051. [PMID: 33785653 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Leiomyosarcomas are rare and aggressive tumors characterized by a complex karyotype. Surgical resection with or without radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the standard curative treatment. Unfortunately, a high percentage of leiomyosarcomas recurs and metastasizes. In these cases, doxorubicin and ifosfamide represent the standard treatment but with low response rates. Here, we evaluated the induction of proteotoxic stress as a possible strategy to kill leiomyosarcoma cells in a therapeutic perspective. We show that aggressive leiomyosarcomas coexist with high levels of proteotoxic stress. As a consequence, we hypothesized that leiomyosarcoma cells are vulnerable to further increases of proteotoxic stress. The small compound 2c is a strong inducer of proteotoxic stress. In leiomyosarcoma cells, it triggers cell death coupled to a profound reorganization of the mitochondrial network. By using stimulated emission depletion microscopy, we have unveiled the existence of DIABLO/SMAC clusters that are modulated by 2c. Finally, we have engineered a new version of 2c linked to polyethylene glycol though a short peptide, named 2cPP. This new prodrug is specifically activated by proteases present in the tumor microenvironment. 2cPP shows a strong antitumor activity in vivo against leiomyosarcomas and no toxicity against normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Iuliano
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Sara Drioli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ymera Pignochino
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, c/o San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.,Sarcoma Unit, Division of Medical Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Claudia Maria Cafiero
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Martina Minisini
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Francesca D'Este
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Raffaella Picco
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Emiliano Dalla
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Giorgia Giordano
- Sarcoma Unit, Division of Medical Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.,Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giovanni Grignani
- Sarcoma Unit, Division of Medical Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Eros Di Giorgio
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Fabio Benedetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fulvia Felluga
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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8
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Tian T, McLean JW, Wilson JA, Wilson SM. Examination of genetic and pharmacological tools to study the proteasomal deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 14 in the nervous system. J Neurochem 2020; 156:309-323. [PMID: 32901953 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Strategies for enhancing protein degradation have been proposed for treating neurological diseases associated with a decline in proteasome activity. A proteasomal deubiquitinating enzyme that controls substrate entry into proteasomes, ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14), is an attractive candidate for therapies that modulate proteasome activity. This report tests the validity of genetic and pharmacological tools to study USP14's role in regulating protein abundance. Although previous studies implicated USP14 in the degradation of microtubule associate protein tau, tar DNA binding protein, and prion protein, the levels of these proteins were similar in our neurons cultured from wild type and USP14-deficient mice. Neither loss nor over-expression of USP14 affected the levels of these proteins in mice, implying that modifying the amount of USP14 is not sufficient to alter their steady-state levels. However, neuronal over-expression of a catalytic mutant of USP14 showed that manipulating USP14's ubiquitin-hydrolase activity altered the levels of specific proteins in vivo. Although pharmacological inhibitors of USP14's ubiquitin-hydrolase activity reduced microtubule associate protein tau, tar DNA binding protein, and prion protein in culture, the effect was similar in wild type and USP14-deficient neurons, thus impacting their use for specifically evaluating USP14 in a therapeutic manner. While examining how targeting USP14 may affect other proteins in vivo, this report showed that fatty acid synthase, v-rel reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog, CTNNB1, and synaptosome associated protein 23 are reduced in USP14-deficient mice; however, loss of USP14 differentially altered the levels of these proteins in the liver and brain. As such, it is critical to more thoroughly examine how inhibiting USP14 alters protein abundance to determine if targeting USP14 will be a beneficial strategy for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Tian
- Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - John W McLean
- Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Julie A Wilson
- Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Scott M Wilson
- Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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DUBs Activating the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway: A Promising Therapeutic Target in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061518. [PMID: 32531973 PMCID: PMC7352588 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog (HH) pathway governs cell proliferation and patterning during embryonic development and is involved in regeneration, homeostasis and stem cell maintenance in adult tissues. The activity of this signaling is finely modulated at multiple levels and its dysregulation contributes to the onset of several human cancers. Ubiquitylation is a coordinated post-translational modification that controls a wide range of cellular functions and signaling transduction pathways. It is mediated by a sequential enzymatic network, in which ubiquitin ligases (E3) and deubiquitylase (DUBs) proteins are the main actors. The dynamic balance of the activity of these enzymes dictates the abundance and the fate of cellular proteins, thus affecting both physiological and pathological processes. Several E3 ligases regulating the stability and activity of the key components of the HH pathway have been identified. Further, DUBs have emerged as novel players in HH signaling transduction, resulting as attractive and promising drug targets. Here, we review the HH-associated DUBs, discussing the consequences of deubiquitylation on the maintenance of the HH pathway activity and its implication in tumorigenesis. We also report the recent progress in the development of selective inhibitors for the DUBs here reviewed, with potential applications for the treatment of HH-related tumors.
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Zhang X, Linder S, Bazzaro M. Drug Development Targeting the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) for the Treatment of Human Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040902. [PMID: 32272746 PMCID: PMC7226376 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells are characterized by a higher rate of protein turnover and greater demand for protein homeostasis compared to normal cells. In this scenario, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), which is responsible for the degradation of over 80% of cellular proteins within mammalian cells, becomes vital to cancer cells, making the UPS a critical target for the discovery of novel cancer therapeutics. This review systematically categorizes all current reported small molecule inhibitors of the various essential components of the UPS, including ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1s), ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s), ubiquitin ligases (E3s), the 20S proteasome catalytic core particle (20S CP) and the 19S proteasome regulatory particles (19S RP), as well as their mechanism/s of action and limitations. We also discuss the immunoproteasome which is considered as a prospective therapeutic target of the next generation of proteasome inhibitors in cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Zhang
- Masonic Cancer Center and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stig Linder
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Martina Bazzaro
- Masonic Cancer Center and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
- Correspondence:
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Mofers A, Perego P, Selvaraju K, Gatti L, Gullbo J, Linder S, D'Arcy P. Analysis of determinants for in vitro resistance to the small molecule deubiquitinase inhibitor b-AP15. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223807. [PMID: 31639138 PMCID: PMC6804958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND b-AP15/VLX1570 are small molecule inhibitors of the ubiquitin specific peptidase 14 (USP14) and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 5 (UCHL5) deubiquitinases (DUBs) of the 19S proteasome. b-AP15/VLX1570 have been shown to be cytotoxic to cells resistant to bortezomib, raising the possibility that this class of drugs can be used as a second-line therapy for treatment-resistant multiple myeloma. Limited information is available with regard to potential resistance mechanisms to b-AP15/VLX1570. RESULTS We found that b-AP15-induced cell death is cell-cycle dependent and that non-cycling tumor cells may evade b-AP15-induced cell death. Such non-cycling cells may re-enter the proliferative state to form colonies of drug-sensitive cells. Long-term selection of cells with b-AP15 resulted in limited drug resistance (~2-fold) that could be reversed by buthionine sulphoximine, implying altered glutathione (GSH) metabolism as a resistance mechanism. In contrast, drug uptake and overexpression of drug efflux transporters were found not to be associated with b-AP15 resistance. CONCLUSIONS The proteasome DUB inhibitors b-AP15/VLX1570 are cell cycle-active. The slow and incomplete development of resistance towards these compounds is an attractive feature in view of future clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjan Mofers
- Department of Medicine and Health, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Paola Perego
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Karthik Selvaraju
- Department of Medicine and Health, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Laura Gatti
- Cerebrovascular Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Joachim Gullbo
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Section of Oncology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stig Linder
- Department of Medicine and Health, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Padraig D'Arcy
- Department of Medicine and Health, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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12
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Fukui S, Nagasaka K, Miyagawa Y, Kikuchi-Koike R, Kawata Y, Kanda R, Ichinose T, Sugihara T, Hiraike H, Wada-Hiraike O, Sasajima Y, Ayabe T. The proteasome deubiquitinase inhibitor bAP15 downregulates TGF-β/Smad signaling and induces apoptosis via UCHL5 inhibition in ovarian cancer. Oncotarget 2019; 10:5932-5948. [PMID: 31666925 PMCID: PMC6800272 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cellular proteins. As an alternative to the proteasome itself, recent research has focused on methods to modulate the regulation of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) upstream of the proteasome, identifying DUBs as novel therapeutic targets in breast, endometrial, and prostate cancers, along with multiple myeloma. bAP15, an inhibitor of the 19S proteasome DUBs UCHL5 and USP14, results in cell growth inhibition in several human cancers; however, the mechanism remains poorly understood in ovarian cancer. Here, we found that aberrant UCHL5 expression predicted shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in a cohort of 1435 patients with ovarian cancer described in the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. The subgroup of patients with TP53 mutations was significantly more likely to exhibit poor PFS (p <0.001). Moreover, we found bAP15 could suppress TP53-mutant ovarian cancer cell survival by regulating TGF-β signaling through inhibiting UCHL5 expression and dephosphorylating Smad2, consequently inducing apoptosis. bAP15 (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) also exerted significant anti-tumor effect on nude mice bearing subcutaneous SKOV3 xenografts. As activated TGF-β signaling is involved in ovarian cancer progression, these findings suggest that UCHL5 inhibition offers potential opportunities for a novel targeted therapy against TGF-β-activated ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiho Fukui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Kazunori Nagasaka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Yuko Miyagawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Ryoko Kikuchi-Koike
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Kawata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Ranka Kanda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Takayuki Ichinose
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Takeru Sugihara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Haruko Hiraike
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Osamu Wada-Hiraike
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yuko Sasajima
- Department of Pathology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Takuya Ayabe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
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