USP37 downregulation elevates the Chemical Sensitivity of Human Breast Cancer Cells to Adriamycin

Knockdown of EBP1 promotes doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in renal clear cell carcinoma cells through activation of the p38/HIF-1α pathway

Kidney clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is a prevalent urological cancer. Despite substantial improvements in KIRC care, patients with intermediate and advanced stages of the disease lack access to appropriate medications. Doxorubicin is widely used as a chemotherapy drug for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. However, its use is associated with harmful side effects and drug resistance. ErbB3-binding protein (EBP1) is highly expressed in KIRC, and the knockdown of EBP1 reduces the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and the expression of HIF-1α. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combined doxorubicin administration and EBP1 knockdown in KIRC cell lines. The KIRC cell lines 786-O and 769-P were used for the experiments, and short hairpin RNA technology was employed to specifically knock down the expression of the EBP1 gene. After treatment, cells were analyzed by western blotting to detect changes in p38MAPK phosphorylation levels and HIF-1α expression. The results showed that EBP1 knockdown significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of doxorubicin on KIRC cells through the p38MAPK/HIF-1α pathway. In conclusion, the knockdown of EBP1 in combination with doxorubicin may be a potential strategy for the treatment of KIRC.

Drug resistance mechanisms and treatment strategies mediated by Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases (USPs) in cancers: new directions and therapeutic options

Drug resistance represents a significant obstacle in cancer treatment, underscoring the need for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets. Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs), a subclass of deubiquitinating enzymes, play a pivotal role in protein deubiquitination. As scientific research advances, USPs have been recognized as key regulators of drug resistance across a spectrum of treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. This comprehensive review examines the complex relationship between USPs and drug resistance mechanisms, focusing on specific treatment strategies and highlighting the influence of USPs on DNA damage repair, apoptosis, characteristics of cancer stem cells, immune evasion, and other crucial biological functions. Additionally, the review highlights the potential clinical significance of USP inhibitors as a means to counter drug resistance in cancer treatment. By inhibiting particular USP, cancer cells can become more susceptible to a variety of anti-cancer drugs. The integration of USP inhibitors with current anti-cancer therapies offers a promising strategy to circumvent drug resistance. Therefore, this review emphasizes the importance of USPs as viable therapeutic targets and offers insight into fruitful directions for future research and drug development. Targeting USPs presents an effective method to combat drug resistance across various cancer types, leading to enhanced treatment strategies and better patient outcomes.

Dysregulation of deubiquitination in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly frequent malignant tumor that poses a serious threat to women's health and has different molecular subtypes, histological subtypes, and biological features, which act by activating oncogenic factors and suppressing cancer inhibitors. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the main process contributing to protein degradation, and deubiquitinases (DUBs) are reverse enzymes that counteract this process. There is growing evidence that dysregulation of DUBs is involved in the occurrence of BC. Herein, we review recent research findings in BC-associated DUBs, describe their nature, classification, and functions, and discuss the potential mechanisms of DUB-related dysregulation in BC. Furthermore, we present the successful treatment of malignant cancer with DUB inhibitors, as well as analyzing the status of targeting aberrant DUBs in BC.

Emerging potential of ubiquitin-specific proteases and ubiquitin-specific proteases inhibitors in breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, accounting for 30% of new diagnosing female cancers. Emerging evidence suggests that ubiquitin and ubiquitination played a role in a number of breast cancer etiology and progression processes. As the primary deubiquitinases in the family, ubiquitin-specific peptidases (USPs) are thought to represent potential therapeutic targets. The role of ubiquitin and ubiquitination in breast cancer, as well as the classification and involvement of USPs are discussed in this review, such as USP1, USP4, USP7, USP9X, USP14, USP18, USP20, USP22, USP25, USP37, and USP39. The reported USPs inhibitors investigated in breast cancer were also summarized, along with the signaling pathways involved in the investigation and its study phase. Despite no USP inhibitor has yet been approved for clinical use, the biological efficacy indicated their potential in breast cancer treatment. With the improvements in phenotypic discovery, we will know more about USPs and USPs inhibitors, developing more potent and selective clinical candidates for breast cancer.

The deubiquitinating enzyme USP37 promotes keloid fibroblasts proliferation and collagen production by regulating the c‐Myc expression

Previous research testifies that c-Myc may promote keloid fibroblast proliferation and collagen accumulation. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 37 (USP37)-mediated deubiquitination and stabilisation of c-Myc are vital for lung cancer proliferation, while the potential role of USP37 in keloid fibroblasts is not investigated. Elevated USP37, c-Myc, and Collagen I content were detected in keloid tissue with RT-PCR or ELISA assay. USP37 over-expression plasmids or USP37 short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) were transfected into keloid fibroblasts with Lipofectamine 3000 to decipher the role of USP37 in keloid fibroblasts. USP37 overexpression could promote the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts with increased c-Myc and Collagen I expression. On the other hand, USP37 shRNAs inhibited the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts with diminished c-Myc and Collagen I expression. It was worth noting that C-Myc overexpression promoted the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts inhibited by USP37 shRNAs with increasing Collagen I expression. All of these results demonstrate that USP37 could regulate c-Myc to promote the proliferation and collagen deposit of keloid fibroblasts, and USP37 could be targeted in future keloid therapy.

Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 37: an important cog in the oncogenic machinery of cancerous cells

Protein ubiquitination is one of the most crucial posttranslational modifications responsible for regulating the stability and activity of proteins involved in homeostatic cellular function. Inconsistencies in the ubiquitination process may lead to tumorigenesis. Ubiquitin-specific peptidases are attractive therapeutic targets in different cancers and are being evaluated for clinical development. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 37 (USP37) is one of the least studied members of the USP family. USP37 controls numerous aspects of oncogenesis, including stabilizing many different oncoproteins. Recent work highlights the role of USP37 in stimulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in lung and breast cancer by stabilizing SNAI1 and stimulating the sonic hedgehog pathway, respectively. Several aspects of USP37 biology in cancer cells are yet unclear and are an active area of research. This review emphasizes the importance of USP37 in cancer and how identifying its molecular targets and signalling networks in various cancer types can help advance cancer therapeutics.