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Shen M, Cao S, Long X, Xiao L, Yang L, Zhang P, Li L, Chen F, Lei T, Gao H, Ye F, Bu H. DNAJC12 causes breast cancer chemotherapy resistance by repressing doxorubicin-induced ferroptosis and apoptosis via activation of AKT. Redox Biol 2024; 70:103035. [PMID: 38306757 PMCID: PMC10847378 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103035] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemotherapy is a primary treatment for breast cancer (BC), yet many patients develop resistance over time. This study aims to identify critical factors contributing to chemoresistance and their underlying molecular mechanisms, with a focus on reversing this resistance. METHODS We utilized samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and West China Hospital to identify and validate genes associated with chemoresistance. Functional studies were conducted using MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines, involving gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) identified potential mechanisms. We examined interactions between DNAJC12, HSP70, and AKT using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays and established cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) models for in vivo validations. RESULTS Boruta analysis of four GEO datasets identified DNAJC12 as highly significant. Patients with high DNAJC12 expression showed an 8 % pathological complete response (pCR) rate, compared to 38 % in the low expression group. DNAJC12 inhibited doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cell death through both ferroptosis and apoptosis. Combining apoptosis and ferroptosis inhibitors completely reversed DOX resistance caused by DNAJC12 overexpression. RNA-seq suggested that DNAJC12 overexpression activated the PI3K-AKT pathway. Inhibition of AKT reversed the DOX resistance induced by DNAJC12, including reduced apoptosis and ferroptosis, restoration of cleaved caspase 3, and decreased GPX4 and SLC7A11 levels. Additionally, DNAJC12 was found to increase AKT phosphorylation in an HSP70-dependent manner, and inhibiting HSP70 also reversed the DOX resistance. In vivo studies confirmed that AKT inhibition reversed DNAJC12-induced DOX resistance in the CDX model. CONCLUSION DNAJC12 expression is closely linked to chemoresistance in BC. The DNAJC12-HSP70-AKT signaling axis is crucial in mediating resistance to chemotherapy by suppressing DOX-induced ferroptosis and apoptosis. Our findings suggest that targeting AKT and HSP70 activities may offer new therapeutic strategies to overcome chemoresistance in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Shen
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Shiyu Cao
- Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xinyi Long
- Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Xiao
- Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Libo Yang
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Peichuan Zhang
- Institute of Thoracic Oncology and Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Li
- Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Lei
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, China
| | - Hongwei Gao
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Feng Ye
- Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Hong Bu
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Institute of Clinical Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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