DNA-PKcs/AKT1 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition during radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inducing ubiquitination and degradation of Twist1.
Clin Transl Med
; 14(5): e1690, 2024 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38760896
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a chronic, progressive, irreversible lung interstitial disease that develops after radiotherapy. Although several previous studies have focused on the mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung epithelial cells, the essential factors involved in this process remain poorly understood. The DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) exhibits strong repair capacity when cells undergo radiation-induced damage; whether DNA-PKcs regulates EMT during RIPF remains unclear.OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the role and molecular mechanism of DNA-PKcs in RIPF and provide an important theoretical basis for utilising DNA-PKcs-targeted drugs for preventing RIPF.METHODS:
DNA-PKcs knockout (DPK-/-) mice were generated via the Cas9/sgRNA technique and subjected to whole chest ionizing radiation (IR) at a 20 Gy dose. Before whole chest IR, the mice were intragastrically administered the DNA-PKcs-targeted drug VND3207. Lung tissues were collected at 1 and 5 months after IR.RESULTS:
The expression of DNA-PKcs is low in pulmonary fibrosis (PF) patients. DNA-PKcs deficiency significantly exacerbated RIPF by promoting EMT in lung epithelial cells. Mechanistically, DNA-PKcs deletion by shRNA or inhibitor NU7441 maintained the protein stability of Twist1. Furthermore, AKT1 mediated the interaction between DNA-PKcs and Twist1. High Twist1 expression and EMT-associated changes caused by DNA-PKcs deletion were blocked by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), an AKT1 agonist. The radioprotective drug VND3207 prevented IR-induced EMT and alleviated RIPF in mice by stimulating the kinase activity of DNA-PKcs.CONCLUSION:
Our study clarified the critical role and mechanism of DNA-PKcs in RIPF and showed that it could be a potential target for preventing RIPF.Palavras-chave
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Fibrose Pulmonar
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Proteínas Nucleares
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Proteína Quinase Ativada por DNA
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Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt
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Proteína 1 Relacionada a Twist
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Transição Epitelial-Mesenquimal
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article