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Wu D, Zuo Z, Sun X, Li X, Yin F, Yin W. ACSL4 promotes malignant progression of Hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting PAK2 transcription. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 224:116206. [PMID: 38615921 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116206] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Long-chain fatty acyl-Coa ligase 4 (ACSL4) is an important enzyme that converts fatty acids to fatty acyl-Coa esters, there is increasing evidence for its role in carcinogenesis. However, the precise role of ACLS4 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not clearly understood. In the present study, we provide evidence that ACSL4 expression was specifically elevated in HCC and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. ACSL4 significantly promotes the growth and metastasis of HCC both in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing and functional experiments showed that the effect of ACSL4 on HCC development was heavily dependent on PAK2. ACSL4 expression is well correlated with PAK2 in HCC, and ACSL4 even transcriptionally increased PAK2 gene expression mediated by Sp1. In addition, emodin, a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative, inhibited HCC cell growth and tumor progression by targeting ACSL4. In summary, ACSL4 plays a novel oncogene in HCC development by regulating PAK2 transcription. Targeting ACSL4 could be useful in drug development and therapy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Wu
- College of Life Sciences in Nanjing University (Xianlin Campus), State Key lab of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (SKLPB), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Zongchao Zuo
- Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Xinning Sun
- College of Life Sciences in Nanjing University (Xianlin Campus), State Key lab of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (SKLPB), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Xin Li
- College of Life Sciences in Nanjing University (Xianlin Campus), State Key lab of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (SKLPB), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Fangzhou Yin
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Wu Yin
- College of Life Sciences in Nanjing University (Xianlin Campus), State Key lab of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (SKLPB), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China.
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Lyu L, Li H, Lu K, Jiang S, Li H. PAK inhibitor FRAX486 decreases the metastatic potential of triple-negative breast cancer cells by blocking autophagy. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:394-405. [PMID: 38110664 PMCID: PMC10844298 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02523-4] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a unique breast cancer subtype with a high risk of metastasis and recurrence and a poor prognosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) endows epithelial cells with the ability to move to distant sites, which is essential for the metastasis of TNBC to organs, including the lung. Autophagy, an intracellular degradation process that involves formation of double-layered lipid autophagosomes that transport cytosolic cargoes into lysosomes via autophagosome-lysosome fusion, is involved in various diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative, metabolic, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases. The relationship between autophagy and cancer has become relatively clear. However, research on pharmacological drugs that block cancer EMT by targeting autophagy is still in the initial stages. Therefore, the re-evaluation of old drugs for their potential in blocking both autophagy and EMT was conducted. METHODS More than 2000 small molecule chemicals were screened for dual autophagy/EMT inhibitors, and FRAX486 was identified as the best candidate inhibitor of autophagy/EMT. The functions of FRAX486 in TNBC metastasis were detected by CCK-8, migration and wound healing assays. The effects of FRAX486 on autophagy and its target PAK2 were determined by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The findings were validated in mouse models. RESULTS Here, we report that FRAX486, a potent P21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) inhibitor, facilitates TNBC suppression both in vitro and in vivo by blocking autophagy. Mechanistically, FRAX486 inhibits autophagy in TNBC cells by targeting PAK2, leading to the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of STX17, which mediates autophagosome-lysosome fusion. The inhibition of autophagy by FRAX486 causes upregulation of the epithelial marker protein E-cadherin and thus suppresses the migration and metastasis of TNBC cells. CONCLUSIONS The effects of FRAX486 on TNBC metastasis suppression were verified to be dependent on PAK2 and autophagy inhibition. Together, our results provide a molecular basis for the application of FRAX486 as a potential treatment for inhibiting the metastasis of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Lyu
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Kefeng Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Shu Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Huihui Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Wang S, Wu X, Wang H, Song S, Hu Y, Guo Y, Chang S, Cheng Y, Zeng S. Role of FBXL5 in redox homeostasis and spindle assembly during oocyte maturation in mice. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23080. [PMID: 37462473 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300244rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
As an E3 ubiquitin ligase, F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 5 (FBXL5) participates in diverse biologic processes. However, the role of Fbxl5 in mouse oocyte meiotic maturation has not yet been fully elucidated. The present study revealed that mouse oocytes depleted of Fbxl5 were unable to complete meiosis, as Fbxl5 silencing led to oocyte meiotic failure with reduced rates of GVBD and polar body extrusion. In addition, Fbxl5 depletion induced aberrant mitochondrial dynamics as we noted the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the accumulation of phosphorylated γH2AX with Fbxl5 knockdown. We also found that Fbxl5-KD led to the abnormal accumulation of CITED2 proteins in mouse oocytes. Our in vitro ubiquitination assay showed that FBXL5 interacted with CITED2 and that it mediated the degradation of CITED2 protein through the ubiquitination-proteasome pathway. Collectively, our data revealed critical functions of FBXL5 in redox hemostasis and spindle assembly during mouse oocyte maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwei Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Song
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuling Hu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yajun Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Siyu Chang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanweilu Cheng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shenming Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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PAK2 is essential for chromosome alignment in metaphase I oocytes. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:150. [PMID: 36813765 PMCID: PMC9947007 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05585-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
As a highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase, p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) participates in diverse biologic events. However, its roles in mouse oocyte meiotic maturation remain unclear. The present study revealed that mouse oocytes depleted of Pak2 were unable to completely progress through meiosis and that a majority were arrested at metaphase I. Pak2 depletion thus prompted MI arrest and induced meiotic chromosome alignment defects in mouse oocytes, in part due to a reduction in polo-like kinase (PLK1). We demonstrated that PAK2's interaction with PLK1 protected it from degradation by APC/CCdh1, and that it promoted meiotic progression and bipolar spindle formation. Our data collectively display critical functions for PAK2 in meiotic progression and chromosome alignment in mouse oocytes.
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Ma Y, Nikfarjam M, He H. The trilogy of P21 activated kinase, autophagy and immune evasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Lett 2022; 548:215868. [PMID: 36027997 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal types of cancer with a dismal prognosis. KRAS mutation is a commonly identified oncogene in PDA tumorigenesis and P21-activated kinases (PAKs) are its downstream mediator. While PAK1 is more well-studied, PAK4 also attracted increasing interest. In PDA, PAK inhibition not only reduces cancer cell viability but also sensitises it to chemotherapy. While PDA remains resistant to existing immunotherapies, PAK inhibition has been shown to increase cancer immunogenicity of melanoma, glioblastoma and PDA. Furthermore, autophagy plays an important role in PDA immune evasion, and accumulating evidence has pointed to a connection between PAK and cancer cell autophagy. In this literature review, we aim to summarize currently available studies that have assessed the potential connection between PAK, autophagy and immune evasion in PDA biology to guide future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ma
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, The University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, The University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia; Department of Hepatopancreatic-Biliary Surgery, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, The University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.
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