Chang Wenyi, Feng Kaiying, Zhou Peng, Gong Deao, Wang Ke, Huang Ailong, Wang Kai, Tang Ni
Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Cancer Sci. 2025 May;116(5):1295-1307. doi: 10.1111/cas.70025. Epub 2025 Feb 17.
Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor-6 (TRAF6) is a well-established upstream regulator of the IKK complex, essential for the modulation of the NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) signaling pathway. Aberrant activation of TRAF6 has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The speckle type BTB/POZ protein (SPOP), an E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate-binding adapter, constitutes a significant component of the CUL3/SPOP/RBX1 complex, which is closely linked to tumorigenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that the E3 ubiquitin ligase SPOP shielded TRAF6 from proteasomal degradation, leading to the hyperactivation of the NF-κB pathway. Notably, a liver cancer-associated S119N mutation in SPOP resulted in a failure to mediate the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of TRAF6. Moreover, both gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments revealed that SPOP inhibits the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells through the TRAF6-NF-κB axis in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings elucidate the underpinning mechanism by which SPOP negatively regulates the stability of the TRAF6 oncoprotein, thus offering a new therapeutic target for HCC intervention.
肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子6(TRAF6)是一种公认的IKK复合物上游调节因子,对调节核因子κB(NF-κB)信号通路至关重要。TRAF6的异常激活与包括肝细胞癌(HCC)在内的多种癌症的发病机制密切相关。斑点型BTB/POZ蛋白(SPOP)是一种E3泛素连接酶底物结合衔接蛋白,是CUL3/SPOP/RBX1复合物的重要组成部分,该复合物与肿瘤发生密切相关。在本研究中,我们证明E3泛素连接酶SPOP可保护TRAF6不被蛋白酶体降解,从而导致NF-κB通路的过度激活。值得注意的是,SPOP中与肝癌相关的S119N突变导致无法介导TRAF6的泛素化及随后的降解。此外,功能获得和功能丧失实验均表明,SPOP在体外和体内通过TRAF6-NF-κB轴抑制HCC细胞的增殖和侵袭。综上所述,我们的研究结果阐明了SPOP负向调节TRAF6癌蛋白稳定性的潜在机制,从而为HCC干预提供了一个新的治疗靶点。