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Hogh-Binder SA, Klein D, Wolfsperger F, Huber SM, Hennenlotter J, Stenzl A, Rudner J. Protein Levels of Anti-Apoptotic Mcl-1 and the Deubiquitinase USP9x Are Cooperatively Upregulated during Prostate Cancer Progression and Limit Response of Prostate Cancer Cells to Radiotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092496. [PMID: 37173959 PMCID: PMC10177233 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiotherapy constitutes an important therapeutic option for prostate cancer. However, prostate cancer cells often acquire resistance during cancer progression, limiting the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy. Among factors regulating sensitivity to radiotherapy are members of the Bcl-2 protein family, known to regulate apoptosis at the mitochondrial level. Here, we analyzed the role of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 and USP9x, a deubiquitinase stabilizing Mcl-1 protein levels, in prostate cancer progression and response to radiotherapy. METHODS Changes in Mcl-1 and USP9x levels during prostate cancer progression were determined by immunohistochemistry. Neutralization of Mcl-1 and USP9x was achieved by siRNA-mediated knockdown. We analyzed Mcl-1 stability after translational inhibition by cycloheximide. Cell death was determined by flow cytometry using an exclusion assay of mitochondrial membrane potential-sensitive dye. Changes in the clonogenic potential were examined by colony formation assay. RESULTS Protein levels of Mcl-1 and USP9x increased during prostate cancer progression, and high protein levels correlated with advanced prostate cancer stages. The stability of Mcl-1 reflected Mcl-1 protein levels in LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cells. Moreover, radiotherapy itself affected Mcl-1 protein turnover in prostate cancer cells. Particularly in LNCaP cells, the knockdown of USP9x expression reduced Mcl-1 protein levels and increased sensitivity to radiotherapy. CONCLUSION Posttranslational regulation of protein stability was often responsible for high protein levels of Mcl-1. Moreover, we demonstrated that deubiquitinase USP9x as a factor regulating Mcl-1 levels in prostate cancer cells, thus limiting cytotoxic response to radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia A Hogh-Binder
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Diana Klein
- Institute for Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 173, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Frederik Wolfsperger
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Stephan M Huber
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Hennenlotter
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Arnulf Stenzl
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Justine Rudner
- Institute for Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 173, 45147 Essen, Germany
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Sheng L, Chen J, Tong Y, Zhang Y, Feng Q, Tang Z. USP9x promotes CD8 (+) T-cell dysfunction in association with autophagy inhibition in septic liver injury. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2022; 54:1-10. [PMID: 36514222 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2022174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition manifested by concurrent inflammation and immunosuppression. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9, X-linked (USP9x), is a USP domain-containing deubiquitinase which is required in T-cell development. In the present study, we investigate whether USP9x plays a role in hepatic CD8 + T-cell dysfunction in septic mice. We find that CD8 + T cells are decreased in the blood of septic patients with liver injury compared with those without liver injury, the CD4/CD8 ratio is increased, and the levels of cytolytic factors, granzyme B and perforin are downregulated. The number of hepatic CD8 + T cells and USP9x expression are both increased 24 h after cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis in a mouse model, a pattern similar to liver injury. The mechanism involves promotion of CD8 + T-cell dysfunction by USP9x associated with suppression of cell cytolytic activity via autophagy inhibition, which is reversed by the USP9x inhibitor WP1130. In the in vivo studies, autophagy is significantly increased in hepatic CD8 + T cells of septic mice with conditional knockout of mammalian target of rapamycin. This study shows that USP9x has the potential to be used as a therapeutic target in septic liver injury.
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Jaiswal A, Murakami K, Elia A, Shibahara Y, Done SJ, Wood SA, Donato NJ, Ohashi PS, Reedijk M. Therapeutic inhibition of USP9x-mediated Notch signaling in triple-negative breast cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2101592118. [PMID: 34518219 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101592118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a breast cancer subtype that lacks targeted treatment options. The activation of the Notch developmental signaling pathway, which is a feature of TNBC, results in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and the recruitment of protumoral macrophages to the tumor microenvironment. While the Notch pathway is an obvious therapeutic target, its activity is ubiquitous, and predictably, anti-Notch therapies are burdened with significant on-target side effects. Previously, we discovered that, under conditions of cellular stress commonly found in the tumor microenvironment, the deubiquitinase USP9x forms a multiprotein complex with the pseudokinase tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3) that together activate the Notch pathway. Herein, we provide preclinical studies that support the potential of therapeutic USP9x inhibition to deactivate Notch. Using a murine TNBC model, we show that USP9x knockdown abrogates Notch activation, reducing the production of the proinflammatory cytokines, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Concomitant with these molecular changes, a reduction in tumor inflammation, the augmentation of antitumor immune response, and the suppression of tumor growth were observed. The pharmacological inhibition of USP9x using G9, a partially selective, small-molecule USP9x inhibitor, reduced Notch activity, remodeled the tumor immune landscape, and reduced tumor growth without associated toxicity. Proving the role of Notch, the ectopic expression of the activated Notch1 intracellular domain rescued G9-induced effects. This work supports the potential of USP9x inhibition to target Notch in metabolically vulnerable tissues like TNBC, while sparing normal Notch-dependent tissues.
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Abstract
Notch promotes breast cancer progression through tumor initiating cell maintenance, tumor cell fate specification, proliferation, survival, and motility. In addition, Notch is recognized as a decisive mechanism in regulating various juxtacrine and paracrine communications in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this chapter, we review recent studies on stress-mediated Notch activation within the TME and sequelae such as angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, changes in the innate and adaptive immunophenotype, and therapeutic perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Shen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Reedijk
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Liu Y, Xu X, Lin P, He Y, Zhang Y, Cao B, Zhang Z, Sethi G, Liu J, Zhou X, Mao X. Inhibition of the deubiquitinase USP9x induces pre-B cell homeobox 1 (PBX1) degradation and thereby stimulates prostate cancer cell apoptosis. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:4572-4582. [PMID: 30718275 PMCID: PMC6433065 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistance is a leading obstacle in effective management of advanced prostate cancer (PCa). A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in PCa chemoresistance could improve treatment of patients with PCa. In the present study, using immune histochemical, chemistry, and precipitation assays with cells from individuals with benign or malignant prostate cancer or established PCa cell lines, we found that the oncogenic transcription factor pre-B cell leukemia homeobox-1 (PBX1) promotes PCa cell proliferation and confers to resistance against common anti-cancer drugs such as doxorubicin and cisplatin. We observed that genetic PBX1 knockdown abrogates this resistance, and further experiments revealed that PBX1 stability was modulated by the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway. To directly probe the impact of this pathway on PBX1 activity, we screened for PBX1-specific deubiquitinases (Dubs) and found that ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9 X-linked (USP9x) interacted with and stabilized the PBX1 protein by attenuating its Lys-48-linked polyubiquitination. Moreover, the USP9x inhibitor WP1130 markedly induced PBX1 degradation and promoted PCa cell apoptosis. The results in this study indicate that PBX1 confers to PCa chemoresistance and identify USP9x as a Dub of PBX1. We concluded that targeting the USP9x/PBX1 axis could be a potential therapeutic strategy for managing advanced prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- From the Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
- the Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
- Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610071, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xu
- the Department of Urology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 21002, China
| | - Peng Lin
- the Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Yuanming He
- the Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Yawen Zhang
- the Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Biyin Cao
- the Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Zubin Zhang
- From the Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
- the Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Gautam Sethi
- the Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600 Singapore
| | - Jinbao Liu
- From the Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Xiumin Zhou
- the Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China, and
| | - Xinliang Mao
- From the Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China,
- the Department of Pharmacology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
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Zheng X, Zhai B, Koivunen P, Shin SJ, Lu G, Liu J, Geisen C, Chakraborty AA, Moslehi JJ, Smalley DM, Wei X, Chen X, Chen Z, Beres JM, Zhang J, Tsao JL, Brenner MC, Zhang Y, Fan C, DePinho RA, Paik J, Gygi SP, Kaelin WG, Zhang Q. Prolyl hydroxylation by EglN2 destabilizes FOXO3a by blocking its interaction with the USP9x deubiquitinase. Genes Dev 2014; 28:1429-44. [PMID: 24990963 PMCID: PMC4083087 DOI: 10.1101/gad.242131.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The three EglN prolyl hydroxylases (EglN1, EglN2, and EglN3) regulate the stability of the HIF transcription factor. We recently showed that loss of EglN2, however, also leads to down-regulation of Cyclin D1 and decreased cell proliferation in a HIF-independent manner. Here we report that EglN2 can hydroxylate FOXO3a on two specific prolyl residues in vitro and in vivo. Hydroxylation of these sites prevents the binding of USP9x deubiquitinase, thereby promoting the proteasomal degradation of FOXO3a. FOXO transcription factors can repress Cyclin D1 transcription. Failure to hydroxylate FOXO3a promotes its accumulation in cells, which in turn suppresses Cyclin D1 expression. These findings provide new insights into post-transcriptional control of FOXO3a and provide a new avenue for pharmacologically altering Cyclin D1 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingnan Zheng
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Bo Zhai
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Peppi Koivunen
- Biocenter Oulu, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Oulu Center for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Oulu, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Sandra J Shin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Gang Lu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Jiayun Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Christoph Geisen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Abhishek A Chakraborty
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Javid J Moslehi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - David M Smalley
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Xin Wei
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Zhengming Chen
- Department of Public Health, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Justine M Beres
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Jen Lan Tsao
- Fibrogen, Incorporated, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | | | - Yuqing Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Cheng Fan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Ronald A DePinho
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jihye Paik
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - William G Kaelin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
| | - Qing Zhang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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