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Sun L, He M, Li F, Wu D, Zheng P, Zhang C, Liu Y, Liu D, Shan M, Yang M, Ma Y, Lian J, Xiong H. Oxyberberine sensitizes liver cancer cells to sorafenib via inhibiting NOTCH1-USP7-c-Myc pathway. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0405. [PMID: 38573832 PMCID: PMC10997235 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sorafenib is the first-line therapy for patients with advanced-stage HCC, but its clinical cure rate is unsatisfactory due to adverse reactions and drug resistance. Novel alternative strategies to overcome sorafenib resistance are urgently needed. Oxyberberine (OBB), a major metabolite of berberine in vivo, exhibits potential antitumor potency in various human malignancies, including liver cancer. However, it remains unknown whether and how OBB sensitizes liver cancer cells to sorafenib. METHODS Cell viability, trypan blue staining and flow cytometry assays were employed to determine the synergistic effect of OBB and sorafenib on killing HCC cells. PCR, western blot, co-immunoprecipitation and RNA interference assays were used to decipher the mechanism by which OBB sensitizes sorafenib. HCC xenograft models and clinical HCC samples were utilized to consolidate our findings. RESULTS We found for the first time that OBB sensitized liver cancer cells to sorafenib, enhancing its inhibitory effect on cell growth and induction of apoptosis in vitro. Interestingly, we observed that OBB enhanced the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib by reducing ubiquitin-specific peptidase 7 (USP7) expression, a well-known tumor-promoting gene. Mechanistically, OBB inhibited notch homolog 1-mediated USP7 transcription, leading to the downregulation of V-Myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (c-Myc), which synergized with sorafenib to suppress liver cancer. Furthermore, animal results showed that cotreatment with OBB and sorafenib significantly inhibited the tumor growth of liver cancer xenografts in mice. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that OBB enhances the sensitivity of liver cancer cells to sorafenib through inhibiting notch homolog 1-USP7-c-Myc signaling pathway, which potentially provides a novel therapeutic strategy for liver cancer to improve the effectiveness of sorafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangbo Sun
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Meng He
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Li
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Di Wu
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Cong Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Meihua Shan
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Mingzhen Yang
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yuanhang Ma
- Department of General Surgery of Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Jiqin Lian
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Haojun Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
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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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3
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Gao A, Zhang M, Zhu SQ, Zou S, Chen H, Li X, He C, Zhou L, Mei Y, Ding W, Zhou J, Zhou Y, Cao Y. DNA polymerase iota promotes EMT and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by interacting with USP7 to stabilize HIF-1α. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:171. [PMID: 38402183 PMCID: PMC10894303 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06552-6] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most lethal cancer types, with a low 5-year survival rate of ~20%. Our prior research has suggested that DNA Polymerase iota (Pol ι), a member of Y-family DNA polymerase, plays a crucial role in the invasion and metastasis of ESCC. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. In this study, we utilized ChIP-PCR and luciferase reporter assays to investigate the binding of HIF-1α to the promoter of the Pol ι gene. Transwell, wound healing, and mouse models were employed to assess the impact of Pol ι and HIF-1α on the motility of ESCC cells. Co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot were carried out to explore the interaction between Pol ι and HIF-1α, while qRT-PCR and Western blot were conducted to confirm the regulation of Pol ι and HIF-1α on their downstream targets. Our results demonstrate that HIF-1α activates the transcription of the Pol ι gene in ESCC cells under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, the knockdown of Pol ι impeded HIF-1α-induced invasion and metastasis. Additionally, we found that Pol ι regulates the expression of genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and initiates EMT through the stabilization of HIF-1α. Mechanistically, Pol ι maintains the protein stability of HIF-1α by recruiting USP7 to mediate the deubiquitination of HIF-1α, with the residues 446-578 of Pol being crucial for the interaction between Pol ι and USP7. Collectively, our findings unveil a novel feedforward molecular axis of HIF-1α- Pol ι -USP7 in ESCC that contributes to ESCC metastasis. Hence, our results present an attractive target for intervention in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidi Gao
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Mingxia Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Shuang Qi Zhu
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Shitao Zou
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Hengrui Chen
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoqin Li
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Chao He
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Liangsu Zhou
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Yan Mei
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Weiqun Ding
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jundong Zhou
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
| | - Yue Zhou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, P.R. China.
| | - Yuandong Cao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
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Park HB, Baek KH. Current and future directions of USP7 interactome in cancer study. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188992. [PMID: 37775071 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188992] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is an essential protein quality controller for regulating protein homeostasis and autophagy. Ubiquitination is a protein modification process that involves the binding of one or more ubiquitins to substrates through a series of enzymatic processes. These include ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1), ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2), and ubiquitin ligases (E3). Conversely, deubiquitination is a reverse process that removes ubiquitin from substrates via deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Dysregulation of ubiquitination-related enzymes can lead to various human diseases, including cancer, through the modulation of protein ubiquitination. The most structurally and functionally studied DUB is the ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7). Both the TRAF and UBL domains of USP7 are known to bind to the [P/A/E]-X-X-S or K-X-X-X-K motif of substrates. USP7 has been shown to be involved in cancer pathogenesis by binding with numerous substrates. Recently, a novel substrate of USP7 was discovered through a systemic analysis of its binding motif. This review summarizes the currently discovered substrates and cellular functions of USP7 in cancer and suggests putative substrates of USP7 through a comprehensive systemic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Beom Park
- Department of Convergence, CHA University, Gyeonggi-Do 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Hyun Baek
- Department of Convergence, CHA University, Gyeonggi-Do 13488, Republic of Korea; International Ubiquitin Center(,) CHA University, Gyeonggi-Do 13488, Republic of Korea.
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Lee SH, Chung KC. USP7 attenuates endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptotic cell death through deubiquitination and stabilization of FBXO7. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290371. [PMID: 37874827 PMCID: PMC10597484 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease (NDD) characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Similar to other NDDs, the buildup of toxic protein aggregates in PD leads to progressive neuronal loss, culminating in neurodegeneration. Accumulating evidence indicates that alterations in subcellular organelles, particularly the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), are critically involved in pathological neurodegenerative events in NDDs, including PD. Mutations in the F-box only protein 7 (FBXO7 or PARK15) gene have been found to cause early onset autosomal recessive familiar PD. FBXO7 functions as an adaptor protein in the Skp1-Cullin1-F-box protein (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, which promotes substrate ubiquitination. Although FBXO7 is involved in the ubiquitination of various target proteins, little is known about the upstream regulatory mechanism of FBXO7 and/or its modulator(s). Ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that regulates the balance between protein synthesis and degradation by removing ubiquitin from target substrates. The role of USP7 in various types of cancer is well-established; however, its role in NDDs has not been elucidated to date. In this study, we identified that USP7 acts as a novel regulator of FBXO7, positively regulating the stability of FBXO7 through Lys48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, USP7 was found to mitigate ER stress-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis by preventing the proteasomal degradation of FBXO7. Taken together, our study suggests that the functional relationship between FBXO7 and USP7 may play a crucial role in ER stress-induced apoptosis and the pathogenesis of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Hyoun Lee
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kwang Chul Chung
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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6
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Fang D, Hu H, Zhao K, Xu A, Yu C, Zhu Y, Yu N, Yao B, Tang S, Wu X, Mei Y. MLF2 Negatively Regulates P53 and Promotes Colorectal Carcinogenesis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303336. [PMID: 37438558 PMCID: PMC10502657 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303336] [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: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Inactivation of the p53 pathway is linked to a variety of human cancers. As a critical component of the p53 pathway, ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) acts as a deubiquitinase for both p53 and its ubiquitin E3 ligase mouse double minute 2 homolog. Here, myeloid leukemia factor 2 (MLF2) is reported as a new negative regulator of p53. MLF2 interacts with both p53 and USP7. Via these interactions, MLF2 inhibits the binding of USP7 to p53 and antagonizes USP7-mediated deubiquitination of p53, thereby leading to p53 destabilization. Functionally, MLF2 plays an oncogenic role in colorectal cancer, at least partially, via the negative regulation of p53. Clinically, MLF2 is elevated in colorectal cancer and its high expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. In wild-type-p53-containing colorectal cancer, MLF2 and p53 expressions are inversely correlated. These findings establish MLF2 as an important suppressor of p53 function. The study also reveals a critical role for the MLF2-p53 axis in promoting colorectal carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debao Fang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic DiseaseDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Hao Hu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic DiseaseDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Kailiang Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic DiseaseDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Aman Xu
- Department of General SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiAnhui230022China
| | - Changjun Yu
- Department of General SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiAnhui230022China
| | - Yong Zhu
- Department of General SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiAnhui230022China
| | - Ning Yu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic DiseaseDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Bo Yao
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic DiseaseDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Suyun Tang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic DiseaseDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Xianning Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Yide Mei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic DiseaseDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHMDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
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Jiang Y, Hong K, Zhao Y, Xu K. Emerging role of deubiquitination modifications of programmed death-ligand 1 in cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1228200. [PMID: 37415977 PMCID: PMC10321661 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1228200] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune evasion is essential for carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a critical immune checkpoint molecule, interacts with programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) on immune cells to suppress anti-tumor immune responses. In the past decade, antibodies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have tremendously altered cancer treatment paradigms. Post-translational modifications have been reported as key regulators of PD-L1 expression. Among these modifications, ubiquitination and deubiquitination are reversible processes that dynamically control protein degradation and stabilization. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are responsible for deubiquitination and have emerged as crucial players in tumor growth, progression, and immune evasion. Recently, studies have highlighted the participation of DUBs in deubiquitinating PD-L1 and modulating its expression. Here, we review the recent developments in deubiquitination modifications of PD-L1 and focus on the underlying mechanisms and effects on anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Jiang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Hong
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingchao Zhao
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Fazlalipour M, Ghoreshi ZAS, Molaei HR, Arefinia N. The Role of DNA Viruses in Human Cancer. Cancer Inform 2023; 22:11769351231154186. [PMID: 37363356 PMCID: PMC10286548 DOI: 10.1177/11769351231154186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This review discusses the possible involvement of infections-associated cancers in humans, with virus infections contributing 15% to 20% of total cancer cases in humans. DNA virus encoded proteins interact with host cellular signaling pathways and control proliferation, cell death and genomic integrity viral oncoproteins are known to bind cellular Deubiquitinates (DUBs) such as cyclindromatosis tumor suppressor, ubiquitin-specific proteases 7, 11, 15 and 20, and A-20 to improve their intracellular stability and cellular signaling pathways and finally transformation. Human papillomaviruses (cervical carcinoma, oral cancer and laryngeal cancer); human polyomaviruses (mesotheliomas, brain tumors); Epstein-Barr virus (B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases and nasopharyngeal carcinoma); Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesvirus (Kaposi's Sarcoma and primary effusion lymphomas); hepatitis B (hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)) cause up to 20% of malignancies around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Fazlalipour
- WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran (IPI), Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran (IPI), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Hamid Reza Molaei
- Department of Medical Bacteriology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Nasir Arefinia
- Student Research Committee, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
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Lin YC, Zheng G, Liu HT, Wang P, Yuan WQ, Zhang YH, Peng XS, Li GJ, Wu YF, Shen HY. USP7 promotes the osteoclast differentiation of CD14+ human peripheral blood monocytes in osteoporosis via HMGB1 deubiquitination. J Orthop Translat 2023; 40:80-91. [PMID: 37333461 PMCID: PMC10275958 DOI: 10.1016/j.jot.2023.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Abnormal osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation is an essential pathological process in osteoporosis. As an important deubiquitinase enzyme, ubiquitin-specific peptidase 7 (USP7) participates in various disease processes through posttranslational modification. However, the mechanism by which USP7 regulates osteoporosis remains unknown. Herein, we aimed to investigate whether USP7 regulates abnormal osteoclast differentiation in osteoporosis. Methods The gene expression profiles of blood monocytes were preprocessed to analyze the differential expression of USP genes. CD14+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from whole blood collected from osteoporosis patients (OPs) and healthy donors (HDs), and the expression pattern of USP7 during the differentiation of CD14+ PBMCs into osteoclasts was detected by western blotting. The role of USP7 in the osteoclast differentiation of PBMCs treated with USP7 siRNA or exogenous rUSP7 was further investigated by the F-actin assay, TRAP staining and western blotting. Moreover, the interaction between high-mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1) and USP7 was investigated by coimmunoprecipitation, and the regulation of the USP7-HMGB1 axis in osteoclast differentiation was further verified. Osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) mice was then studied using the USP7-specific inhibitor P5091 to identify the role of USP7 in osteoporosis. Results The bioinformatic analyses and CD14+ PBMCs from osteoporosis patients confirmed that the upregulation of USP7 was associated with osteoporosis. USP7 positively regulates the osteoclast differentiation of CD14+ PBMCs in vitro. Mechanistically, USP7 promoted osteoclast formation by binding to and deubiquitination of HMGB1. In vivo, P5091 effectively attenuates bone loss in OVX mice. Conclusion We demonstrate that USP7 promotes the differentiation of CD14+ PBMCs into osteoclasts via HMGB1 deubiquitination and that inhibition of USP7 effectively attenuates bone loss in osteoporosis in vivo.The translational potential of this article:The study reveals novel insights into the role of USP7 in the progression of osteoporosis and provides a new therapeutic target for the treatment of osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Cong Lin
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
| | - Guan Zheng
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
| | - Hua-Tao Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
| | - Wei-Quan Yuan
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
| | - Yun-Hui Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
| | - Xiao-Shuai Peng
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
| | - Guo-Jian Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
| | - Yan-Feng Wu
- Center for Biotherapy, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
| | - Hui-Yong Shen
- Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 3025# Shennan Road, Shenzhen, 518000, PR China
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10
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Song Y, Wang S, Zhao M, Yu B. Development of a robust HTRF assay with USP7 full length protein expressed in E. coli prokaryotic system for the identification of USP7 inhibitors. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 227:115305. [PMID: 36812797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115305] [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: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a promising therapeutic target. Several USP7 inhibitors accommodated in the catalytic triad of USP7 have been reported with the aid of high-throughput screening (HTS) methods using USP7 catalytic domain truncation. However, the drawbacks of previously reported biochemical cleavage assays, including poor stability, fluorescence interference, time-consuming, expensive, more importantly the selectivity issue, have challenged the USP7-targeted drug discovery. In this work, we demonstrated the functional heterogeneity and essential role of different structural elements in the USP7 full activation, highlighting the necessity of USP7 full length in drug discovery. Apart from reported two pockets in the catalytic triad, five additional ligandable pockets were predicted based on the proposed USP7 full length models by AlphaFold and homology modelling. A reliable homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) HTS method was established based on the cleavage mechanism of USP7 towards the ubiquitin precursor UBA10. The USP7 full length protein was successfully expressed in the relatively cost-effective E. coli prokaryotic system and used to simulate the auto-activated USP7 in nature. Via screening our in-house library (∼ 1500 compounds), 19 hit compounds with >20% of inhibition rate were identified for further optimization. This assay will enrich the toolbox for the identification of highly potent and selective USP7 inhibitors for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Shu Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Min Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Bin Yu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
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11
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Yang YC, Zhao CJ, Jin ZF, Zheng J, Ma LT. Targeted therapy based on ubiquitin-specific proteases, signalling pathways and E3 ligases in non-small-cell lung cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1120828. [PMID: 36969062 PMCID: PMC10036052 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1120828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours worldwide, with the highest mortality rate. Approximately 1.6 million deaths owing to lung cancer are reported annually; of which, 85% of deaths occur owing to non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At present, the conventional treatment methods for NSCLC include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and surgery. However, drug resistance and tumour invasion or metastasis often lead to treatment failure. The ubiquitin–proteasome pathway (UPP) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumours. Upregulation or inhibition of proteins or enzymes involved in UPP can promote or inhibit the occurrence and development of tumours, respectively. As regulators of UPP, ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) primarily inhibit the degradation of target proteins by proteasomes through deubiquitination and hence play a carcinogenic or anticancer role. This review focuses on the role of USPs in the occurrence and development of NSCLC and the potential of corresponding targeted drugs, PROTACs and small-molecule inhibitors in the treatment of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chen Yang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Can-Jun Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhao-Feng Jin
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Jin Zheng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Li-Tian Ma, ; Jin Zheng,
| | - Li-Tian Ma
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Li-Tian Ma, ; Jin Zheng,
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12
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Shen WF, Tang HW, Li JB, Li X, Chen S. Multimodal data fusion for supervised learning-based identification of USP7 inhibitors: a systematic comparison. J Cheminform 2023; 15:5. [PMID: 36631899 PMCID: PMC9835315 DOI: 10.1186/s13321-022-00675-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7) is a promising target protein for cancer therapy, and great attention has been given to the identification of USP7 inhibitors. Traditional virtual screening methods have now been successfully applied to discover USP7 inhibitors aiming at reducing costs and speeding up time in several studies. However, due to their unsatisfactory accuracy, it is still a difficult task to develop USP7 inhibitors. In this study, multiple supervised learning classifiers were built to distinguish active USP7 inhibitors from inactive ligands. Physicochemical descriptors, MACCS keys, ECFP4 fingerprints and SMILES were first calculated to represent the compounds in our in-house dataset. Two deep learning (DL) models and nine classical machine learning (ML) models were then constructed based on different combinations of the above molecular representations under three activity cutoff values, and a total of 15 groups of experiments (75 experiments) were implemented. The performance of the models in these experiments was evaluated, compared and discussed using a variety of metrics. The optimal models are ensemble learning models when the dataset is balanced or severely imbalanced, and SMILES-based DL performs the best when the dataset is slightly imbalanced. Meanwhile, multimodal data fusion in some cases can improve the performance of ML and DL models. In addition, SMOTE, unbiased decoy selection and SMILES enumeration can improve the performance of ML and DL models when the dataset is severely imbalanced, and SMOTE works the best. Our study established highly accurate supervised learning classification models, which would accelerate the development of USP7 inhibitors. Some guidance was also provided for drug researchers in selecting supervised models and molecular representations as well as handling imbalanced datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-feng Shen
- grid.39436.3b0000 0001 2323 5732School of Medicine & School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - He-wei Tang
- grid.39436.3b0000 0001 2323 5732School of Medicine & School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Jia-bo Li
- grid.39436.3b0000 0001 2323 5732School of Medicine & School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Xiang Li
- grid.73113.370000 0004 0369 1660School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433 China
| | - Si Chen
- grid.39436.3b0000 0001 2323 5732School of Medicine & School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
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13
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Miyashita R, Nishiyama A, Qin W, Chiba Y, Kori S, Kato N, Konishi C, Kumamoto S, Kozuka-Hata H, Oyama M, Kawasoe Y, Tsurimoto T, Takahashi TS, Leonhardt H, Arita K, Nakanishi M. The termination of UHRF1-dependent PAF15 ubiquitin signaling is regulated by USP7 and ATAD5. eLife 2023; 12:79013. [PMID: 36734974 PMCID: PMC9943068 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
UHRF1-dependent ubiquitin signaling plays an integral role in the regulation of maintenance DNA methylation. UHRF1 catalyzes transient dual mono-ubiquitylation of PAF15 (PAF15Ub2), which regulates the localization and activation of DNMT1 at DNA methylation sites during DNA replication. Although the initiation of UHRF1-mediated PAF15 ubiquitin signaling has been relatively well characterized, the mechanisms underlying its termination and how they are coordinated with the completion of maintenance DNA methylation have not yet been clarified. This study shows that deubiquitylation by USP7 and unloading by ATAD5 (ELG1 in yeast) are pivotal processes for the removal of PAF15 from chromatin. On replicating chromatin, USP7 specifically interacts with PAF15Ub2 in a complex with DNMT1. USP7 depletion or inhibition of the interaction between USP7 and PAF15 results in abnormal accumulation of PAF15Ub2 on chromatin. Furthermore, we also find that the non-ubiquitylated form of PAF15 (PAF15Ub0) is removed from chromatin in an ATAD5-dependent manner. PAF15Ub2 was retained at high levels on chromatin when the catalytic activity of DNMT1 was inhibited, suggesting that the completion of maintenance DNA methylation is essential for the termination of UHRF1-mediated ubiquitin signaling. This finding provides a molecular understanding of how the maintenance DNA methylation machinery is disassembled at the end of the S phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Miyashita
- Division of Cancer Cell Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Atsuya Nishiyama
- Division of Cancer Cell Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Weihua Qin
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenMunichGermany
| | - Yoshie Chiba
- Division of Cancer Cell Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Satomi Kori
- Structural Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City UniversityYokohamaJapan
| | - Norie Kato
- Structural Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City UniversityYokohamaJapan
| | - Chieko Konishi
- Division of Cancer Cell Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Soichiro Kumamoto
- Division of Cancer Cell Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Hiroko Kozuka-Hata
- Medical Proteomics Laboratory, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Masaaki Oyama
- Medical Proteomics Laboratory, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Yoshitaka Kawasoe
- Laboratory of Chromosome Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Toshiki Tsurimoto
- Laboratory of Chromosome Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Tatsuro S Takahashi
- Laboratory of Chromosome Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | | | - Kyohei Arita
- Structural Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City UniversityYokohamaJapan
| | - Makoto Nakanishi
- Division of Cancer Cell Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
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14
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Li X, Yang S, Zhang H, Liu X, Gao Y, Chen Y, Liu L, Wang D, Liang Z, Liu S, Dai L, Xu Q, Yuan H, Chen C, Sun H, Wen X. Discovery of Orally Bioavailable N-Benzylpiperidinol Derivatives as Potent and Selective USP7 Inhibitors with In Vivo Antitumor Immunity Activity against Colon Cancer. J Med Chem 2022; 65:16622-16639. [PMID: 36454192 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
USP7 emerges as a potential therapeutic target for cancers, as it plays an important role in the development of tumorigenesis by stabilizing multiple cancer-relevant proteins. Nevertheless, the discovery of drug-like USP7 inhibitors remains challenging. Herein, we report a series of N-benzylpiperidinol derivatives as potent and selective USP7 inhibitors (e.g., X20 and X26: IC50 = 7.6 and 8.2 nM), whose binding modes were revealed by crystallographic studies to be distinct from the known N-acylpiperidinol USP7 inhibitors. Among them, X36 with good oral PK profiles (rat: F = 40.8% and T1/2 = 3.5 h) exhibited significant antitumor efficacy in the MC38 colon cancer syngeneic mouse model, at least partly through upregulating the tumor infiltration of CD8+ T, NK, and NKT cells and downregulating that of Tregs and MDSCs. These findings may further pave the way for the development of USP7 inhibitors as novel cancer immunotherapy drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Shanlin Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Honghan Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xipeng Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuchen Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuqi Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Liu Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Dalin Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zijiang Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Shengjie Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Liang Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.,Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing 401135, China
| | - Qinglong Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Haoliang Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.,Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing 401135, China
| | - Caiping Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.,Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing 401135, China
| | - Hongbin Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.,State Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmacy of Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.,Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing 401135, China
| | - Xiaoan Wen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.,State Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmacy of Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.,Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing 401135, China
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15
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An T, Lu Y, Gong Z, Wang Y, Su C, Tang G, Hou J. Research Progress for Targeting Deubiquitinases in Gastric Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235831. [PMID: 36497313 PMCID: PMC9735992 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancers (GCs) are malignant tumors with a high incidence that threaten global public health. Despite advances in GC diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis remains poor. Therefore, the mechanisms underlying GC progression need to be identified to develop prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Ubiquitination, a post-translational modification that regulates the stability, activity, localization, and interactions of target proteins, can be reversed by deubiquitinases (DUBs), which can remove ubiquitin monomers or polymers from modified proteins. The dysfunction of DUBs has been closely linked to tumorigenesis in various cancer types, and targeting certain DUBs may provide a potential option for cancer therapy. Multiple DUBs have been demonstrated to function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in GC. In this review, we summarize the DUBs involved in GC and their associated upstream regulation and downstream mechanisms and present the benefits of targeting DUBs for GC treatment, which could provide new insights for GC diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao An
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
| | - Yanting Lu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Zhaoqi Gong
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
| | - Yongtao Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
| | - Chen Su
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Institute of Gastrointestinal Oncology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Guimei Tang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
- Correspondence: (G.T.); (J.H.)
| | - Jingjing Hou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Institute of Gastrointestinal Oncology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Correspondence: (G.T.); (J.H.)
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16
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USP7 Inhibitors in Cancer Immunotherapy: Current Status and Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225539. [PMID: 36428632 PMCID: PMC9688046 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) regulates the stability of a plethora of intracellular proteins involved in the suppression of anti-tumor immune responses and its overexpression is associated with poor survival in many cancers. USP7 impairs the balance of the p53/MDM2 axis resulting in the proteasomal degradation of the p53 tumor suppressor, a process that can be reversed by small-molecule inhibitors of USP7. USP7 was shown to regulate the anti-tumor immune responses in several cases. Its inhibition impedes the function of regulatory T cells, promotes polarization of tumor-associated macrophages, and reduces programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor cells. The efficacy of small-molecule USP7 inhibitors was demonstrated in vivo. The synergistic effect of combining USP7 inhibition with cancer immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic approach, though its clinical efficacy is yet to be proven. In this review, we focus on the recent developments in understanding the intrinsic role of USP7, its interplay with other molecular pathways, and the therapeutic potential of targeting USP7 functions.
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17
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Xu X, Wang M, Xu H, Liu N, Chen K, Luo C, Chen S, Chen H. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-aminopyridine derivatives as USP7 inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2022; 129:106128. [PMID: 36113266 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106128] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
A series of novel 2-aminopyridine derivatives 1-26 have been designed and synthesized by structural modifications on a lead USP7 inhibitor, GNE6640. All the compounds were evaluated for their USP7 inhibitory activities. The results showed that most of the compounds have good USP7 inhibitory activities at the concentration of 50 μM. Among them, compounds 7, 14 and 21 are the most potential ones from each category with the IC50 values of 7.6 ± 0.1 μM, 17.0 ± 0.2 μM and 11.6 ± 0.5 μM, respectively. Compounds 7 and 21 expressed significant binding interactions with USP7 by surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based binding assay, but both of them presented moderate antiproliferative activities against HCT116 cells. They could effectively promote MDM2 degradation, p53 stabilization and p21 gene expression in the western blot analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Xu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Mingchen Wang
- The Center for Chemical Biology, Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hailong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Na Liu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Kaixian Chen
- The Center for Chemical Biology, Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- The Center for Chemical Biology, Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Shijie Chen
- The Center for Chemical Biology, Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Hua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
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18
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USP7 regulates the ERK1/2 signaling pathway through deubiquitinating Raf-1 in lung adenocarcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:698. [PMID: 35948545 PMCID: PMC9365811 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05136-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is one of the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) in the ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) family. It is a key regulator of numerous cellular functions including immune response, cell cycle, DNA damage and repair, epigenetics, and several signaling pathways. USP7 acts by removing ubiquitin from the substrate proteins. USP7 also binds to a specific binding motif of substrate proteins having the [P/A/E]-X-X-S or K-X-X-X-K protein sequences. To date, numerous substrate proteins of USP7 have been identified, but no studies have been conducted using the binding motif that USP7 binds. In the current study, we analyzed putative substrate proteins of USP7 through the [P/A/E]-X-X-S and K-X-X-X-K binding motifs using bioinformatics tools, and confirmed that Raf-1 is one of the substrates for USP7. USP7 binds to the Pro-Val-Asp-Ser (PVDS) motif of the conserved region 2 (CR2) which contains phosphorylation sites of Raf-1 and decreased M1-, K6-, K11-, K27-, K33-, and K48-linked polyubiquitination of Raf-1. We further identified that the DUB activity of USP7 decreases the threonine phosphorylation level of Raf-1 and inhibits signaling transduction through Raf activation. This regulatory mechanism inhibits the activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the G2/M transition and the cell proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells. In summary, our results indicate that USP7 deubiquitinates Raf-1 and is a new regulator of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in lung adenocarcinoma.
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19
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Hypoxia signaling in human health and diseases: implications and prospects for therapeutics. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:218. [PMID: 35798726 PMCID: PMC9261907 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01080-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular oxygen (O2) is essential for most biological reactions in mammalian cells. When the intracellular oxygen content decreases, it is called hypoxia. The process of hypoxia is linked to several biological processes, including pathogenic microbe infection, metabolic adaptation, cancer, acute and chronic diseases, and other stress responses. The mechanism underlying cells respond to oxygen changes to mediate subsequent signal response is the central question during hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) sense hypoxia to regulate the expressions of a series of downstream genes expression, which participate in multiple processes including cell metabolism, cell growth/death, cell proliferation, glycolysis, immune response, microbe infection, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. Importantly, hypoxia signaling also interacts with other cellular pathways, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) signaling, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This paper systematically reviews the mechanisms of hypoxia signaling activation, the control of HIF signaling, and the function of HIF signaling in human health and diseases. In addition, the therapeutic targets involved in HIF signaling to balance health and diseases are summarized and highlighted, which would provide novel strategies for the design and development of therapeutic drugs.
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20
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Frey Y, Franz-Wachtel M, Macek B, Olayioye MA. Proteasomal turnover of the RhoGAP tumor suppressor DLC1 is regulated by HECTD1 and USP7. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5036. [PMID: 35322810 PMCID: PMC8943137 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08844-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rho GTPase activating protein Deleted in Liver Cancer 1 (DLC1) is frequently downregulated through genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in various malignancies, leading to aberrant Rho GTPase signaling and thus facilitating cancer progression. Here we show that in breast cancer cells, dysregulation of DLC1 expression occurs at the protein level through rapid degradation via the ubiquitin–proteasome system. Using mass spectrometry, we identify two novel DLC1 interaction partners, the ubiquitin-ligase HECTD1 and the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7). While DLC1 protein expression was rapidly downregulated upon pharmacological inhibition of USP7, siRNA-mediated knockdown of HECTD1 increased DLC1 protein levels and impaired its degradation. Immunofluorescence microscopy analyses revealed that the modulation of HECTD1 levels and USP7 activity altered DLC1 abundance at focal adhesions, its primary site of action. Thus, we propose opposing regulatory mechanisms of DLC1 protein homeostasis by USP7 and HECTD1, which could open up strategies to counteract downregulation and restore DLC1 expression in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Frey
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Mirita Franz-Wachtel
- Proteome Center Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Boris Macek
- Proteome Center Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Monilola A Olayioye
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany. .,Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology (SRCSB), University of Stuttgart, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
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Harakandi C, Nininahazwe L, Xu H, Liu B, He C, Zheng YC, Zhang H. Recent advances on the intervention sites targeting USP7-MDM2-p53 in cancer therapy. Bioorg Chem 2021; 116:105273. [PMID: 34474304 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7)-murine double minute 2 (MDM2)-p53 network plays an important role in the regulation of p53, a tumor suppressor which plays critical roles in regulating cell growth, proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and immune response. The overexpression of USP7 and MDM2 in human cancers contributes to cancer initiation and progression, and their inhibition reactivates p53 signalings and causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Herein, the current state of pharmacological characterization, potential applications in cancer treatment and mechanism of action of small molecules used to target and inhibit MDM2 and USP7 proteins are highlighted, along with the outcomes in clinical and preclinical settings. Moreover, challenges and advantages of these strategies, as well as perspectives in USP7-MDM2-p53 field are analyzed in detail. The investigation and application of MDM2 and USP7 inhibitors will deepen our understanding of the function of USP7-MDM2-p53 network, and feed in the development of effective and safe cancer therapies where USP7-MDM2-p53 network is implicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrisanta Harakandi
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Lauraine Nininahazwe
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Bingrui Liu
- College of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063503, China
| | - Chenghua He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yi-Chao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
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