Ou Yang, Zhang Kun, Shuai Qiuying, Wang Chenyang, Hu Huayu, Cao Lixia, Qi Chunchun, Guo Min, Li Zhaoxian, Shi Jie, Liu Yuxin, Zuo Siyu, Chen Xiao, Wang Yanjing, Feng Mengdan, Wang Hang, Sun Peiqing, Shi Yi, Yang Guang, Yang Shuang
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Neurovascular Regulation, School of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Acta Pharm Sin B. 2025 May;15(5):2593-2611. doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.03.004. Epub 2025 Mar 6.
Recent studies have indicated that the expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 51 (USP51), a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that mediates protein degradation as part of the ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS), is associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in multiple malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling networks involved in USP51-mediated regulation of malignant phenotypes remain largely unknown. The present study provides evidence of USP51's functions as the prominent DUB in chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. At the molecular level, ectopic expression of USP51 stabilized the 78 kDa Glucose-Regulated Protein (GRP78) protein through deubiquitination, thereby increasing its expression and localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, the upregulation of cell surface GRP78 increased the activity of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), the main efflux pump of doxorubicin (DOX), ultimately decreasing its accumulation in TNBC cells and promoting the development of drug resistance both and . Clinically, we found significant correlations among USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 expression in TNBC patients with chemoresistance. Elevated USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 levels were also strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis. Importantly, we revealed an alternative intervention for specific pharmacological targeting of USP51 for TNBC cell chemosensitization. In conclusion, these findings collectively indicate that the USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 network is a key contributor to the malignant progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of TNBC cells, underscoring the pivotal role of USP51 as a novel therapeutic target for cancer management.
最近的研究表明,泛素特异性蛋白酶51(USP51)作为一种新型去泛素化酶(DUB),在泛素-蛋白酶体系统(UPS)中参与介导蛋白质降解,其表达与多种恶性肿瘤的肿瘤进展和治疗耐药性相关。然而,USP51介导的恶性表型调控的潜在机制和信号网络仍 largely未知。本研究提供了证据,证明USP51在化疗耐药的三阴性乳腺癌(TNBC)细胞中作为主要的DUB发挥作用。在分子水平上,USP51的异位表达通过去泛素化稳定了78 kDa葡萄糖调节蛋白(GRP78),从而增加其在细胞表面的表达和定位。此外,细胞表面GRP78的上调增加了阿霉素(DOX)的主要外排泵ATP结合盒亚家族B成员1(ABCB1)的活性,最终减少了其在TNBC细胞中的积累,并促进了体内外耐药性的发展。临床上,我们发现化疗耐药的TNBC患者中USP51、GRP78和ABCB1的表达之间存在显著相关性。USP51、GRP78和ABCB1水平升高也与患者预后不良密切相关。重要的是,我们揭示了一种针对USP51进行特异性药理靶向以实现TNBC细胞化学增敏的替代干预措施。总之,这些发现共同表明,USP51/GRP78/ABCB1网络是TNBC细胞恶性进展和化疗耐药的关键因素,强调了USP51作为癌症治疗新靶点的关键作用。
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