DEPDC1B-mediated USP5 deubiquitination of β-catenin promotes breast cancer metastasis by activating the wnt/β-catenin pathway

Wnt signaling pathways in biology and disease: mechanisms and therapeutic advances

The Wnt signaling pathway is critically involved in orchestrating cellular functions such as proliferation, migration, survival, and cell fate determination during development. Given its pivotal role in cellular communication, aberrant Wnt signaling has been extensively linked to the pathogenesis of various diseases. This review offers an in-depth analysis of the Wnt pathway, detailing its signal transduction mechanisms and principal components. Furthermore, the complex network of interactions between Wnt cascades and other key signaling pathways, such as Notch, Hedgehog, TGF-β, FGF, and NF-κB, is explored. Genetic mutations affecting the Wnt pathway play a pivotal role in disease progression, with particular emphasis on Wnt signaling's involvement in cancer stem cell biology and the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, this review underscores the diverse mechanisms through which Wnt signaling contributes to diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic syndromes, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Finally, a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic progress targeting Wnt signaling was given, and the latest progress in disease treatment targeting key components of the Wnt signaling pathway was summarized in detail, including Wnt ligands/receptors, β-catenin destruction complexes, and β-catenin/TCF transcription complexes. The development of small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and combination therapy strategies was emphasized, while the current potential therapeutic challenges were summarized. This aims to enhance the current understanding of this key pathway.

LncRNA TCL6 regulates miR-876-5p/MYL2 axis to suppress breast cancer progression

We explored the influence of the TCL6/miR-876-5p axis on breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we evaluated the expression of TCL6 in breast cancer patients and studied its effects on cell proliferation, migration, and the cell cycle in vitro. The regulatory effect of miR-876-5p on myosin light chain-2 (MYL2) 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) was analyzed through luciferase reporter assays, and rescue experiments confirmed TCL6-driven upregulation of MYL2 via a competitive RNA binding mechanism. Furthermore, we used a mouse subcutaneous tumor model to assess the impact of TCL6 knockdown combined with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Our results indicated that higher TCL6 expression correlated with a favorable prognosis in breast cancer patients. In vitro experiments showed that knockdown of TCL6 and MYL2 enhanced breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. The luciferase and rescue assays demonstrated that TCL6 interacted with miR-876-5p to upregulate MYL2, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and migration. Both in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that overexpression of TCL6 suppressed tumor growth and improved the response to PD-1 immunotherapy in tumor-bearing mice. This research highlights the pivotal role of lncRNA TCL6 in breast cancer development via a ceRNA network involving miR-876-5p and MYL2, suggesting a novel molecular target for breast cancer therapy.

USP5 Promotes Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression via mTOR Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by limited prognostic markers and treatment options, contributing to high mortality rates. While Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 5 (USP5) has been implicated in various cancers, its role in HNSCC remains poorly understood.

AIMS

This study aims to investigate the role of USP5 in the progression of HNSCC and explore its potential as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target.

MATERIALS & METHODS

This work utilized single-cell transcriptomic analysis with the Scissor algorithm to identify distinct epithelial subpopulations, particularly focusing on the Stress subpopulation that exhibited significant upregulation of USP5. Validation was conducted using tissue microarray (TMA) analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to compare USP5 expression levels in HNSCC tissues versus adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, RNA interference (RNAi) experiments were performed to knock down USP5 expression, assessing its effects on tumor cell behavior, including proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as the regulation of mTORC1 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

RESULTS

This study revealed that the Stress subpopulation, characterized by USP5 upregulation, was associated with enhanced tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. TMA and IHC analyses confirmed that USP5 expression was significantly higher in HNSCC tissues compared to normal tissues, correlating with poor patient prognosis. Additionally, RNAi-mediated knockdown of USP5 led to reduced tumor cell activities and downregulation of the mTORC1 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

DISCUSSION

The findings suggest that USP5 plays a critical role in driving HNSCC progression. Its overexpression in aggressive tumor subpopulations and association with poor clinical outcomes highlight its potential utility as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target. The observed effects on cell behavior and oncogenic signaling pathways provide mechanistic insights into how USP5 for HNSCC therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study establishes USP5 as a key driver of HNSCC progression, underscoring its potential role in prognosis and therapy. Targeting USP5 may offer novel treatment strategies for HNSCC, addressing the urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions in this aggressive malignancy.

USP5 Stabilizes IKBKG Through Deubiquitination to Suppress Ferroptosis and Promote Growth in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Ferroptosis, a distinctive modality of cell mortality, has emerged as a critical regulator in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The deubiquitinating enzyme USP5 has established an oncogenic role in NSCLC. However, its biological relevance in NSCLC cell ferroptosis is currently unexplored. Expression analysis was performed by quantitative PCR (qPCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunoblotting. Animal xenograft studies were used to detect USP5's role in tumor growth. Cell proliferation, colony formation and apoptotic ratio were assessed by CCK-8, colony formation and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Cell ferroptosis was evaluated by gauging ROS, MDA, GSH, SOD, and Fe2+ contents. The USP5/IKBKG relationship and the ubiquitinated IKBKG were evaluated by Co-IP experiments. USP5 expression was elevated in human NSCLC. USP5 depletion suppressed NSCLC cell in vitro and in vivo growth and enhanced cell apoptosis. Moreover, USP5 depletion induced ferroptosis in NSCLC cell lines. Mechanistically, USP5 could enhance the stability of IKBKG protein through deubiquitination. Re-expression of IKBKG partially but significantly abolished USP5 depletion-mediated anti-growth and pro-ferroptosis effects in NSCLC cells. Our study demonstrates that USP5 suppresses ferroptosis and enhances growth in NSCLC cells by stabilizing IKBKG protein through deubiquitination. Targeting USP5 expression is an encouraging strategy to block NSCLC progression.

Interplay between Wnt signaling molecules and exosomal miRNAs in breast cancer (Review)

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Wnt signaling is involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, and is closely associated with the characteristics of BC. Variation in the expression of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) modulates key cancer phenotypes, such as cellular proliferation, epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, metastatic potential, immune evasion and treatment resistance. The present review aimed to discuss the importance of Wnt signaling and exosomal miRNAs in regulating the occurrence and development of BC. In addition, the present review determined the crosstalk between Wnt signaling and exosomal miRNAs, and highlighted potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

USP5: Comprehensive insights into structure, function, biological and disease-related implications, and emerging therapeutic opportunities

Ubiquitin specific protease 5 (USP5) is a vital deubiquitinating enzyme that regulates various physiological functions by removing ubiquitin chains from target proteins. This review provides an overview of the structural and functional characteristics of USP5. Additionally, we discuss the role of USP5 in regulating diverse cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, DNA double-strand damage, methylation, heat stress, and protein quality control, by targeting different substrates. Furthermore, we describe the involvement of USP5 in several pathological conditions such as tumors, pathological pain, developmental abnormalities, inflammatory diseases, and virus infection. Finally, we introduce newly developed inhibitors of USP5. In conclusion, investigating the novel functions and substrates of USP5, elucidating the underlying mechanisms of USP5-substrate interactions, intensifying the development of inhibitors, and exploring the upstream regulatory mechanisms of USP5 in detail can provide a new theoretical basis for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer, which is a promising research direction with considerable potential. Overall, USP5 plays a critical role in regulating various physiological and pathological processes, and investigating its novel functions and regulatory mechanisms may have significant implications for the development of therapeutic strategies for cancer and other diseases.