Targeting the KDM4B-AR-c-Myc axis promotes sensitivity to androgen receptor-targeted therapy in advanced prostate cancer.

The histone demethylase KDM4B functions as a key co-activator for the androgen receptor (AR) and plays a vital in multiple cancers through controlling gene expression by epigenetic regulation of H3K9 methylation marks. Constitutively active androgen receptor confers anti-androgen resistance in advanced prostate cancer. However, the role of KDM4B in resistance to next-generation anti-androgens and the mechanisms of KDM4B regulation are poorly defined. Here we found that KDM4B is overexpressed in enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer cells. Overexpression of KDM4B promoted recruitment of AR to the c-Myc (MYC) gene enhancer and induced H3K9 demethylation, increasing AR-dependent transcription of c-Myc mRNA, which regulates the sensitivity to next-generation AR-targeted therapy. Inhibition of KDM4B significantly inhibited prostate tumor cell growth in xenografts, and improved enzalutamide treatments through suppression of c-Myc. Clinically, KDM4B expression was found upregulated and to correlate with prostate cancer progression and poor prognosis. Our results revealed a novel mechanism of anti-androgen resistance via histone demethylase alteration which could be targeted through inhibition of KDM4B to reduce AR-dependent c-Myc expression and overcome resistance to AR-targeted therapies. © 2020 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Targeting USP1-dependent KDM4A protein stability as a potential prostate cancer therapy.

The histone demethylase lysine-specific demethylase 4A (KDM4A) is reported to be overexpressed and plays a vital in multiple cancers through controlling gene expression by epigenetic regulation of H3K9 or H3K36 methylation marks. However, the biological role and mechanism of KDM4A in prostate cancer (PC) remain unclear. Herein, we reported KDM4A expression was upregulation in phosphatase and tensin homolog knockout mouse prostate tissue. Depletion of KDM4A in PC cells inhibited their proliferation and survival in vivo and vitro. Further studies reveal that USP1 is a deubiquitinase that regulates KDM4A K48-linked deubiquitin and stability. Interestingly, we found c-Myc was a key downstream effector of the USP1-KDM4A/androgen receptor axis in driving PC cell proliferation. Notably, upregulation of KDM4A expression with high USP1 expression was observed in most prostate tumors and inhibition of USP1 promotes PC cells response to therapeutic agent enzalutamide. Our studies propose USP1 could be an anticancer therapeutic target in PC.

The ubiquitinase ZFP91 promotes tumor cell survival and confers chemoresistance through FOXA1 destabilization.

The forkhead box A1 (FOXA1), one of the forkhead class of DNA-binding proteins, functions as a transcription factor and plays a vital role in cellular control of embryonic development and cancer progression. Downregulation of FOXA1 has reported in several types of cancer, which contributes to cancer cell survival and chemoresistance. However, the mechanism for FOXA1 downregulation in cancer remains unclear. Here, we report that the ubiquitination enzyme zinc finger protein 91 (ZFP91) ubiquitinates and destabilizes FOXA1, which promotes cancer cell growth. High level of ZFP91 expression correlates with low level of FOXA1 protein in human gastric cancer (GC) cell lines and patient samples. Furthermore, ZFP91 knockdown reduces FOXA1 polyubiquitination, which decreases FOXA1 turnover and enhances cellular sensitivity to chemotherapy. Taken together, our findings reveal ZFP91-FOXA1 axis plays an important role in promoting GC progression and provides us a potential therapeutic intervention in the treatment of GC.

STUB1 suppresseses tumorigenesis and chemoresistance through antagonizing YAP1 signaling.

Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a component of the canonical Hippo signaling pathway that is known to play essential roles in modulating organ size, development, and tumorigenesis. Activation or upregulation of YAP1, which contributes to cancer cell survival and chemoresistance, has been verified in different types of human cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of YAP1 upregulation in cancer is still unclear. Here we report that the E3 ubiquitin ligase STUB1 ubiquitinates and destabilizes YAP1, thereby inhibiting cancer cell survival. Low levels of STUB1 expression were correlated with increased protein levels of YAP1 in human gastric cancer cell lines and patient samples. Moreover, we revealed that STUB1 ubiquitinates YAP1 at the K280 site by K48-linked polyubiquitination, which in turn increases YAP1 turnover and promotes cellular chemosensitivity. Overall, our study establishes YAP1 ubiquitination and degradation mediated by the E3 ligase STUB1 as an important regulatory mechanism in gastric cancer, and provides a rationale for potential therapeutic interventions.

Effect of High MiR-146a Expression on the Inflammatory Reaction in BV2 Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of MiR-146a regulator function on the inflammatory response in neuroglia cell (microglia). METHODS: BV2 cells were transfected by MiR-146a mimics,and then stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). MiR-146a expression was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) were detected by PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared to the normal control group, MiR-146a expression was significantly elevated by transfection with MiR-146a mimics (t=5.846, P=0.0021). The expression levels of IRAK1, TRAF6, TNFα, and IL-6 significantly increased in the LPS-stimulated BV2 cells compared to the non-stimulated BV2. The enhancement of MiR-146a resulted in significantly decreased IL-6 (t=5.200, P=0.0003) and TNFα (t=9.812, P<0.0001) secretion. The mRNA (t=5.353, P=0.0007) and protein (t=6.980, P=0.0009) levels of TRAF6, but not IRAK1, also significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: MiR-146a may negatively suppress the inflammatory response of BV2 cells by regulating the expression of IRAF6 molecules in the TLR4 signaling pathway.