Objective:Small cell lung cancer(SCLC)is commonly recognized as the most fatal lung cancer type.Despite substantial advances in immune checkpoint blockade therapies for treating solid cancers,their benefits are limite...Objective:Small cell lung cancer(SCLC)is commonly recognized as the most fatal lung cancer type.Despite substantial advances in immune checkpoint blockade therapies for treating solid cancers,their benefits are limited to a minority of patients with SCLC.In the present study,novel indicators for predicting the outcomes and molecular targets for SCLC treatment were elucidated.Methods:We conducted bioinformatics analysis to identify the key genes associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in SCLC.The functional role of the key gene identified in SCLC was determined both in vitro and in vivo.Results:A significant correlation was observed between patient survival and CD56dim natural killer(NK)cell proportion.Furthermore,we noted that the hub gene ubiquitin-specific protease 1(USP1)is closely correlated with both CD56dim NK cells and overall survival in SCLC.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that USP1 is upregulated in SCLC.In addition,gene set enrichment analysis revealed that USP1 overexpression hinders NK cell-mediated immune responses.By co-cultivating NK-92 cells with SCLC cells,we demonstrated that NK cell cytotoxicity against SCLC could be improved either via USP1 knock-down or pharmacological inhibition.Furthermore,using a nude-mice xenograft tumor model,we noted that USP1 inhibition effectively suppressed tumor proliferation and increased the expression of NK cell-associated markers.Conclusions:Our study findings highlight the importance of NK cells in regulating SCLC.USP1 overexpression can inhibit NK cell-mediated immunity;therefore,USP1 may serve not only as a prognostic biomarker but also as a potential molecular target of SCLC therapy.展开更多
Human enterovirus A71(EV-A71)is a major causative agent of hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD),which poses a significant public health threat,particularly among young children.Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein(M...Human enterovirus A71(EV-A71)is a major causative agent of hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD),which poses a significant public health threat,particularly among young children.Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein(MAVS)and interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3)are vital proteins for the induction of type I interferons(IFN-I)and downstream interferon-stimulated genes(ISGs)during EVA71 infection.While posttranslational modifications are known to critically influence viral infection processes,the mechanisms by which EV-A71 exploits host deubiquitinases(DUBs)for immune evasion remain poorly understood.In this study,we demonstrated that EV-A71 infection upregulated ubiquitinspecific protease 5(USP5)expression.Knockdown of USP5 not only inhibited EV-A71 replication but also observably increased the production of IFN-I and ISGs.Furthermore,USP5 also regulated the replication of EV-D68 and CVA16 and the production of IFN-I and ISGs.Mechanistically,USP5 physically interacted with MAVS and IRF3 and reduced the K63-linked polyubiquitination of MAVS and IRF3.Conversely,USP5 knockdown increased the K63-linked polyubiquitination of MAVS and IRF3,thereby accelerating the phosphorylation of IRF3 and increasing IFN-I production during EV-A71 infection.Furthermore,pharmacological inhibition of USP5 with the small-molecule inhibitor PR-619 significantly potentiated the antiviral effects of IFN against EV-A71.Collectively,our findings reveal a previously unrecognized role of USP5 in facilitating EV-A71 immune evasion by dampening MAVSand IRF3-mediated antiviral signaling.These insights provide a novel therapeutic avenue for combating EV-A71 infection through targeted modulation of the USP5-IRF3 axis.展开更多
Aim： To study the incidence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in ubiquitin-specific protease 26 （USP26） gene and its involvement in idiopathic male infertility in China. Methods： Routine semen analysis was perfor...Aim： To study the incidence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in ubiquitin-specific protease 26 （USP26） gene and its involvement in idiopathic male infertility in China. Methods： Routine semen analysis was performed. Infertility factors such as immunological, infectious and biochemical disorders were examined to select patients with idiopathic infertility. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of the selected patients and control population, which were examined for mutations using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Furthermore, nucleotide sequences were sequenced in some patients and controls. Results： Of 41 infertile men, 9 （22.0%, P = 0.01） had changes in USP26 gene on the X chromosome. A compound mutation （364insACA; 460G→A） was detected in 8 patients （19.5%, P = 0.01） and a 1044T→A substitution was found in 1 patient （2.4%, P 〉 0.05）. All three variations led to changes in the coding amino acids. Two substitutions predict some changes： 460G→ A changes a valine into an isoleucine, and 1044T → A substitutes a leucine for a phenylalanine. Another insertion of three nucleotides ACA causes an insertion of threonine. No other changes were found in the remaining patients and fertile controls. Conclusion： The USP26 gene might be of importance in male reproduction. Mutations in this gene might be associated with male infertility, and might negatively affect testicular function. Further research on this issue is in progress.展开更多
BACKGROUND Ubiquitin-specific protease 15(USP15)is an important member of the ubiquitinspecific protease family,the largest deubiquitinase subfamily,whose expression is dysregulated in many types of cancer.However,the...BACKGROUND Ubiquitin-specific protease 15(USP15)is an important member of the ubiquitinspecific protease family,the largest deubiquitinase subfamily,whose expression is dysregulated in many types of cancer.However,the biological function and the underlying mechanisms of USP15 in gastric cancer(GC)progression have not been elucidated.AIM To explore the biological role and underlying mechanisms of USP15 in GC progression.METHODS Bioinformatics databases and western blot analysis were utilized to determine the expression of USP15 in GC.Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the correlation between USP15 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with GC.A loss-and gain-of-function experiment was used to investigate the biological effects of USP15 on GC carcinogenesis.RNA sequencing,immunofluorescence,and western blotting were performed to explore the potential mechanism by which USP15 exerts its oncogenic functions.RESULTS USP15 was up-regulated in GC tissue and cell lines.The expression level of USP15 was positively correlated with clinical characteristics(tumor size,depth of invasion,lymph node involvement,tumor-node-metastasis stage,perineural invasion,and vascular invasion),and was related to poor prognosis.USP15 knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation,invasion and epithelialmesenchymal transition(EMT)of GC in vitro,while overexpression of USP15 promoted these processes.Knockdown of USP15 inhibited tumor growth in vivo.Mechanistically,RNA sequencing analysis showed that USP15 regulated the Wnt signaling pathway in GC.Western blotting confirmed that USP15 silencing led to significant down-regulation ofβ-catenin and Wnt/β-catenin downstream genes(c-myc and cyclin D1),while overexpression of USP15 yielded an opposite result and USP15 mutation had no change.Immunofluorescence indicated that USP15 promoted nuclear translocation ofβ-catenin,suggesting activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,which may be the critical mechanism promoting GC progression.Finally,rescue experiments showed that the effect of USP15 on gastric cancer progression was dependent on Wnt/β-catenin pathway.CONCLUSION USP15 promotes cell proliferation,invasion and EMT progression of GC via regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,which suggests that USP15 is a novel potential therapeutic target for GC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Intestinal ischemia reperfusion(I/R) injury is a serious but common pathophysiological process of many diseases, resulting in a high mortality rate in clinical practice. Ubiquitin-specific protease 22(USP22...BACKGROUND Intestinal ischemia reperfusion(I/R) injury is a serious but common pathophysiological process of many diseases, resulting in a high mortality rate in clinical practice. Ubiquitin-specific protease 22(USP22) acts as regulator of cell cycle progression, proliferation, and tumor invasion. Depleted USP22 expression has been reported to contribute to arrested cell cycle and disrupted generation of differentiated cell types in crypts and villi. However, the role of USP22 in intestinal damage recovery has not been investigated. Therefore, elucidation of the underlying mechanism of USP22 in intestinal I/R injury may help to improve the tissue repair and patient prognosis in clinical practice.AIM To investigate the role of USP22 in intestinal cell proliferation and regeneration after intestinal I/R injury.METHODS An animal model of intestinal I/R injury was generated in male Sprague-Dawley rats by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery followed by reperfusion.Chiu's scoring system was used to grade the damage to the intestinal mucosa. An in vitro model was developed by incubating rat intestinal epithelial IEC-6 cells in hypoxia/reoxygenation conditions in order to simulate I/R in vivo. siRNA and overexpression plasmid were used to regulate the expression of USP22. USP22,Cyclin D1, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) expression levels were measured by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry staining. Cell survival(viability) and cell cycle were evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8and flow cytometry, respectively.RESULTS USP22 expression was positively correlated with the expression levels of PCNA and Cyclin D1 both in vivo and in vitro, which confirmed that USP22 was involved in cell proliferation and intestinal regeneration after intestinal I/R injury. Decreased levels of Cyclin D1 and cell cycle arrest were observed in the USP22 knockdown group(P < 0.05), while opposite results were observed in the USP22 overexpression group(P < 0.05). In addition, increased expression of USP22 was related to improved intestinal pathology or IEC-6 cell viability after I/R or hypoxia/reoxygenation. These results suggested that USP22 may exert a protective effect on intestinal I/R injury by regulating cell proliferation and facilitating tissue regeneration.CONCLUSION USP22 is correlated with promoting intestinal cell proliferation and accelerating intestinal tissue regeneration after intestinal I/R injury and may serve as a potential target for therapeutic development for tissue repair during intestinal I/R injury.展开更多
TANK-binding kinase 1(TBK1)is an essential protein kinase for activation of interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3)and induction of the type I interferons(IFN-I).Although the biochemical regulation of TBK1 activation has...TANK-binding kinase 1(TBK1)is an essential protein kinase for activation of interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3)and induction of the type I interferons(IFN-I).Although the biochemical regulation of TBK1 activation has been studied,little is known about how enterovirus 71(EV71)employs the deubiquitinases(DUBs)to regulate TBK1 activation for viral immune evasion.Here,we found that EV71 infection upregulated the expression of ubiquitinspecific protease 24(USP24).Further studies revealed that USP24 physically interacted with TBK1,and can reduce K63-linked polyubiquitination of TBK1.Knockdown of USP24 upregulated TBK1 K63-linked polyubiquitination,promoted the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3,and in turn improved IFN-I production during EV71 infection.As a consequence,USP24 knockdown dramatically inhibited EV71 infection.This study revealed USP24 as a novel regulator of TBK1 activation,which promotes the understanding of immune evasion mechanisms of EV71 and could provide a potential strategy for treatment of EV71 infection.展开更多
Whether the 370-371insACA, 494T〉C, and 1423C〉T haplotype in ubiquitin-specific protease 26 （USP26） gene is associated with male infertility is controversial. To clarify this issue, we conducted a meta-analysis bas...Whether the 370-371insACA, 494T〉C, and 1423C〉T haplotype in ubiquitin-specific protease 26 （USP26） gene is associated with male infertility is controversial. To clarify this issue, we conducted a meta-analysis based on the most recent studies. Eligible studies were screened by using PubMed and Embase. Pooled odd ratio （OR） with 95% confidence interval （CI） was calculated with fixed effect models. Ten studies with 1603 patients and 2505 controls were included, Overall, the results indicated that there was an association between the haplotype and male infertile risk （OR = 1.74, 95% CI： 1.09-2.77）. The OR calculated based on the five studies in Asia and three in Europe was 1.96 （95% CI： 1,05-3.67） and 1.54 （95% Ch 0.75-3.16） respectively, however, the OR was 0.86 （95% Ch 0.05-15,29） based on the two investigations in America. In addition, the data from the patients with azoospermia （AZO） showed an increased pooled OR of 2.35 （95% Cl： 1.22-4.50）. In contrast, the studies with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia （OAT） exhibited that the pooled OR was 0,97 （95% Ch 0.43-2.16）. Our analyses indicate that there is an association of alteration in USP26 with male infertility, especially in AZO and Asian population.展开更多
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one very usual tumor together with higher death rate.Ubiquitin-specific protease 21(USP21)has been confirmed to take part into the regulation of CRC progression through serving as a...BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one very usual tumor together with higher death rate.Ubiquitin-specific protease 21(USP21)has been confirmed to take part into the regulation of CRC progression through serving as a facilitator.Interestingly,the promotive function of USP21 has also discovered in the progression of CRC.ZEB1 has illustrated to be modulated by USP7,USP22 and USP51 in cancers.However,the regulatory functions of USP21 on ZEB1 in CRC progression need more invest-igations.AIM To investigate the relationship between USP21 and ZEB1 in CRC progression.METHODS The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed through RT-qPCR,western blot and IHC assay.The interaction between USP21 and ZEB1 was evaluated through Co-IP and GST pull down assays.The cell proliferation was detected through colony formation assay.The cell migration and invasion abilities were determined through Transwell assay.The stemness was tested through sphere formation assay.The tumor growth was evaluated through in vivo mice assay.RESULTS In this work,USP21 and ZEB1 exhibited higher expression in CRC,and resulted into poor prognosis.Moreover,the interaction between USP21 and ZEB1 was further investigated.It was demonstrated that USP21 contributed to the stability of ZEB1 through modulating ubiquitination level.In addition,USP21 streng-thened cell proliferation,migration and stemness through regulating ZEB1.At last,through in vivo assays,it was illustrated that USP21/ZEB1 axis aggravated tumor growth.CONCLUSION For the first time,these above findings manifested that USP21 promoted tumorigenicity and stemness of CRC by deubiquitinating and stabilizing ZEB1.This discovery suggested that USP21/ZEB1 axis may provide novel sights for the treatment of CRC.展开更多
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...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.展开更多
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the third most frequent and the second most fatal cancer.The search for more effective drugs to treat this disease is ongoing.A better understanding of the mechanisms of CRC develop...BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the third most frequent and the second most fatal cancer.The search for more effective drugs to treat this disease is ongoing.A better understanding of the mechanisms of CRC development and progression may reveal new therapeutic strategies.Ubiquitin-specific peptidases(USPs),the largest group of the deubiquitinase protein family,have long been implicated in various cancers.There have been numerous studies on the role of USPs in CRC;however,a comprehensive view of this role is lacking.AIM To provide a systematic review of the studies investigating the roles and functions of USPs in CRC.METHODS We systematically queried the MEDLINE(via PubMed),Scopus,and Web of Science databases.RESULTS Our study highlights the pivotal role of various USPs in several processes implicated in CRC:Regulation of the cell cycle,apoptosis,cancer stemness,epithelial–mesenchymal transition,metastasis,DNA repair,and drug resistance.The findings of this study suggest that USPs have great potential as drug targets and noninvasive biomarkers in CRC.The dysregulation of USPs in CRC contributes to drug resistance through multiple mechanisms.CONCLUSION Targeting specific USPs involved in drug resistance pathways could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for overcoming resistance to current treatment regimens in CRC.展开更多
During recent decades,the association between mutations in ubiquitin-specific protease 26(USP26)and male infertility remains doubtful.We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the association between mutations in US...During recent decades,the association between mutations in ubiquitin-specific protease 26(USP26)and male infertility remains doubtful.We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the association between mutations in USP26 and male infertility according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)2020 guidelines.It was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews(PROSPERO;CRD42021225251).PubMed,Web of Science,and Scopus were systematically searched for comparative clinical studies,which were written in English and provided eligible data.Studies were included when they compared USP26 mutations in azoospermic,oligozoospermic,and asthenozoospermic patients with controls with normal sperm parameter values or whose partners had experienced spontaneous pregnancy.Pooled odds ratio(OR)with 95%confidence interval(CI)was calculated with random effect models.Overall,twelve studies with 3927 infertility patients and 4648 healthy controls were included.The association between overall USP26 mutations and infertility was not significant(OR=1.60,95%CI:0.51-5.01).For specific mutations,the pooled ORs were 1.65(95%CI:1.02-2.69)for cluster mutation(including 370-371insACA,494T>C,and 1423C>T),1.80(95%CI:0.35-9.15)for c.576G>A,1.43(95%CI:0.79-2.56)for c.1090C>T,and 3.59(95%CI:2.30-5.59)for c.1737G>A.Our results suggest that several mutations(cluster mutation,c.1737G>A)may play roles in male infertility,while others(c.576G>A and c.1090C>T)do not show notable associations with male infertility.More high-quality clinical researches are needed for validation.展开更多
Objective Ubiquitin-specific protease 4(USP4)facilitates the development of transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in various cancer cells.Moreover,EMT of renal tubula...Objective Ubiquitin-specific protease 4(USP4)facilitates the development of transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in various cancer cells.Moreover,EMT of renal tubular epithelial cells(RTECs)is required for the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis.However,the role of USP4 in EMT of RTECs remains unknown.The present study aimed to explore the effect of USP4 on the EMT of RTECs as well as the involved mechanism.Methods In established unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO)rats and NRK-52E cells,immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were performed.Results USP4 expression was increased significantly with obstruction time.In NRK-52E cells stimulated by TGF-β1,USP4 expression was increased in a time-dependent manner.In addition,USP4 silencing with specific siRNA indicated that USP4 protein was suppressed effectively.Meanwhile,USP4 siRNA treatment restored E-cadherin and weakened alpha smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)expression,indicating that USP4 may promote EMT.After treatment with USP4 siRNA and TGF-β1 for 24 h,the expression of TGF-β1 receptor type I(TβRI)was decreased.Conclusion USP4 promotes the EMT of RTECs through upregulating TβRI,thereby facilitating renal interstitial fibrosis.These findings may provide a potential target of USP4 in the treatment of renal fibrosis.展开更多
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor and the leading cause ofcancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Great progress has been recently achieved incontrolling breast cancer;however, mortality from ...Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor and the leading cause ofcancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Great progress has been recently achieved incontrolling breast cancer;however, mortality from breast cancer remains a substantial challenge, and new treatment mechanisms are being actively sought. Programmed cell death(PCD) is associated with the progression and treatment of many types of human cancers.PCD can be divided into multiple pathways including autophagy, apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and anoikis. Ubiquitination is a post-translationalmodification process in which ubiquitin, a 76-amino acid protein, is coupled to the lysine residues of other proteins. Ubiquitination is involved in many physiological events and promotescancer development and progression. This review elaborates the role of ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) in programmed cell death, which is common in breast cancer cells, and lays thefoundation for tumor diagnosis and targeted therapy.展开更多
A mutant isolated from a screen of EMS-mutagenized Arabidopsis lines, per1, showed normal root hair development under control conditions but displayed an inhibited root hair elongation phenotype upon Pi deficiency. Ad...A mutant isolated from a screen of EMS-mutagenized Arabidopsis lines, per1, showed normal root hair development under control conditions but displayed an inhibited root hair elongation phenotype upon Pi deficiency. Additionally, the per1 mutant exhibited a pleiotropic phenotype under control conditions, resembling Pi-deficient plants in several aspects. Inhibition of root hair elongation upon growth on low Pi media was reverted by treatment with the Pi analog phosphite, suggesting that the mutant phenotype is not caused by a lack of Pi. Reciprocal grafting experiments revealed that the mutant rootstock is sufficient to cause the phenotype. Complementation analyses showed that the PER1 gene encodes an ubiquitin-specific protease, UBP14. The mutation caused a synonymous substitution in the 12th exon of this gene, resulting in a lower abundance of the UBP14 protein, probably as a consequence of reduced translation efficiency. Transcriptional profiling of per1 and wild-type plants subjected to short-term Pi starvation revealed genes that may be important for the signaling of Pi deficiency. We conclude that UBP14 function is crucial for adapting root development to the prevailing local availability of phosphate.展开更多
Deubiquitinates(DUBs) alter the stabilities, localizations or activities of substrates by removing their ubiquitin conjugates,which are closely related to the development of inflammatory response. Here, we show that u...Deubiquitinates(DUBs) alter the stabilities, localizations or activities of substrates by removing their ubiquitin conjugates,which are closely related to the development of inflammatory response. Here, we show that ubiquitin-specific protease 47(USP47) prevents inflammation development in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Compared with wild-type mice, Usp47 knockout mice are more susceptible to dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced acute and chronic colitis with higher inflammatory cytokines expression and severe intestinal tissue damage. Chimeric mouse experiments suggest that non-hematopoietic cells mainly contribute to the phenotype. And, DSS-induced colitis of the Usp47 knockout mice depends on commensal bacteria.Mechanistically, down-regulation of USP47 aggravates the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway by increasing the K63-linked poly-ubiquitination of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6) in intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, the expression of USP47, negatively correlated with the degree of inflammation, is lower at colonic inflammatory lesions than that non-inflammatory sites from the intestine from ulcerative colitis(UC) and Crohn's disease(CD) patients. These data, taken together, indicate that USP47 regulates intestinal inflammation through de-ubiquitination of K63-linked poly-ubiquitination TRAF6 in intestinal epithelial cells.展开更多
Background: Ubiquitination plays an essential role in many biological processes, including viral infection, and can be reversed by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Although some studies discovered that DUBs inhibit or...Background: Ubiquitination plays an essential role in many biological processes, including viral infection, and can be reversed by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Although some studies discovered that DUBs inhibit or enhance viral infection by various mechanisms, there is lack of information on the role of DUBs in virus regulation, which needs to be further investigated.Methods: Immunoblotting, real-time polymerase chain reaction,in vivo/in vitro deubiquitination, protein immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and co-localization biological techniques were employed to examine the effect of ubiquitin-specific protease 3 (USP3) on APOBEC3G (A3G) stability and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. To analyse the relationship between USP3 and HIV disease progression, we recruited 20 HIV-infected patients to detect the levels of USP3 and A3G in peripheral blood and analysed their correlation with CD4^(+) T-cell counts. Correlation was estimated by Pearson correlation coefficients (for parametric data).Results: The results demonstrated that USP3 specifically inhibits HIV-1 replication in an A3G-dependent manner. Further investigation found that USP3 stabilized 90% to 95% of A3G expression by deubiquitinating Vif-mediated polyubiquitination and blocking its degradation in an enzyme-dependent manner. It also enhances the A3G messenger RNA (mRNA) level by binding to A3G mRNA and stabilizing it in an enzyme-independent manner. Moreover, USP3 expression was positively correlated with A3G expression (r= 0.5110) and CD4^(+) T-cell counts (r= 0.5083) in HIV-1-infected patients.Conclusions: USP3 restricts HIV-1 viral infections by increasing the expression of the antiviral factor A3G. Therefore, USP3 may be an important target for drug development and serve as a novel therapeutic strategy against viral infections.展开更多
Background： Two recent whole-exome sequencing researches identifying somatic mutations in the ubiquitin-specific protease 8 （USP8） gene in pituitary corticotroph adenomas provide exciting advances in this field. Th...Background： Two recent whole-exome sequencing researches identifying somatic mutations in the ubiquitin-specific protease 8 （USP8） gene in pituitary corticotroph adenomas provide exciting advances in this field. These mutations drive increased epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） signaling and promote adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） production. This study was to investigate whether the inhibition of USP8 activity could be a strategy/br the treatment of Cushing＇s disease （CD）. Methods： The anticancer effect of USP8 inhibitor was determined by testing cell viability, colony tbrmation, apoptosis, and ACTH secretion. The immunoblotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were conducted to explore the signaling pathway by USP8 inhibition. Results： Inhibition of USP8-induced degradation of receptor tyrosine kinases including EGFR, EGFR-2 （ERBB2）, and Met leading to a suppression of ArT20 cell growth and ACTH secretion. Moreover, treatment with USP8 inhibitor markedly induced AtT20 cells apoptosis. Conclusions： Inhibition of USP8 activity could be an effective strategy for CD. It might provide a novel pharmacological approach for the treatment of CD.展开更多
Ubiquitin-specific protease(UBP)family is the largest group of deubiquitinases,which plays important roles in eukaryotic organisms.Comprehensive analysis of UBP genes has not been conducted in the plant pathogenic fun...Ubiquitin-specific protease(UBP)family is the largest group of deubiquitinases,which plays important roles in eukaryotic organisms.Comprehensive analysis of UBP genes has not been conducted in the plant pathogenic fungi.In this study,11 putative UBP genes were identified and characterized in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.Expression profile analysis showed that UBP3,UBP6,UBP12 and UBP14 were highly expressed in different tissues of M.oryzae.In all ubp mutants,especiallyΔubp3,Δubp12 and previously reportedΔubp14,the ubiquitination levels were evidently elevated,which is consistent with their molecular roles in de-ubiquitination.TheΔubp1,Δubp3,Δubp4,Δubp8 andΔubp14 mutants were reduced in colony growth.Most of the ubp mutants were severely reduced in conidia production capacity,indicating important roles of the UBPs in conidia formation.Except forΔubp2 andΔubp16,all of the other mutants were decreased in virulence to host plants and defective in invasive growth.These ubp mutants also induced massive ROS accumulation in host cells.We also found that the UBPs may function as both positive and negative regulators in stress response and nutrient utilization of M.oryzae.Collectively,UBPs are important for development,stress response,nutrient utilization and infection of M.oryzae.展开更多
The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and its stability is regulated by ubiquitination.However,the regulatory mechanisms und...The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and its stability is regulated by ubiquitination.However,the regulatory mechanisms underlying NLRP3 deubiquitination and its role in HCC metastasis remains unclear.We demonstrated that ubiq protease 50(USP50)directly interacts with NLRP3,exhibiting deubiquitinase(DUB)activity through cleavage of K48-linked polyubiquitination chains to stabilize NLRP3 by preventing proteasomal degradation.Clinically,we observed that low NLRP3 and highβ-catenin levels were negatively correlated in HCC specimens.Subsequent mechanistic exploration that NLRP3 exerts negative regulation onβ-catenin by binding with glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta(GSK3β),reversing the downstream epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)process,and inhibiting HCC metastasis.Notably,USP50 was found to activate NLRP3 masome by promoting nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)signaling,consequently enhancing proin cytokines.Furthermore,USP50 overexpression negatively regulatedβ-catenin,reversed EMT process and inhibited HCC metastasis in vivo.In conclusion,USP50 has emerged as a key player in regulating the NLRP3 and inhibiting HCC metastasis by reversing the EMT process.As a result,it presents itself as a promising therapeutic target for HCC in the clinical setting.The intricacies of this regulatory mechanism,as revealed by our study,provide valuable insights into the understanding and potential interventions for HCC.展开更多
This letter comments on the recently published manuscript by Yu et al,in which the authors revealed a novel mechanism by which the m6A-modified long noncoding RNA kinesin family member 9-antisense RNA 1 promotes stemn...This letter comments on the recently published manuscript by Yu et al,in which the authors revealed a novel mechanism by which the m6A-modified long noncoding RNA kinesin family member 9-antisense RNA 1 promotes stemness and sorafenib resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)through ubiquitinspecific peptidase 1-mediated deubiquitination of oncogene short stature homeobox 2.Given the high mortality rate and poor prognosis of HCC,the findings by Yu et al open a new avenue for overcoming HCC burden by focusing on kinesin family member 9-antisense RNA 1 and short stature homeobox 2 as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the Dongguan Science and Technology of Social Development Program(No.20231800940192)the Talent Development Foundation of the First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University(No.PU2023002).
文摘Objective:Small cell lung cancer(SCLC)is commonly recognized as the most fatal lung cancer type.Despite substantial advances in immune checkpoint blockade therapies for treating solid cancers,their benefits are limited to a minority of patients with SCLC.In the present study,novel indicators for predicting the outcomes and molecular targets for SCLC treatment were elucidated.Methods:We conducted bioinformatics analysis to identify the key genes associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in SCLC.The functional role of the key gene identified in SCLC was determined both in vitro and in vivo.Results:A significant correlation was observed between patient survival and CD56dim natural killer(NK)cell proportion.Furthermore,we noted that the hub gene ubiquitin-specific protease 1(USP1)is closely correlated with both CD56dim NK cells and overall survival in SCLC.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that USP1 is upregulated in SCLC.In addition,gene set enrichment analysis revealed that USP1 overexpression hinders NK cell-mediated immune responses.By co-cultivating NK-92 cells with SCLC cells,we demonstrated that NK cell cytotoxicity against SCLC could be improved either via USP1 knock-down or pharmacological inhibition.Furthermore,using a nude-mice xenograft tumor model,we noted that USP1 inhibition effectively suppressed tumor proliferation and increased the expression of NK cell-associated markers.Conclusions:Our study findings highlight the importance of NK cells in regulating SCLC.USP1 overexpression can inhibit NK cell-mediated immunity;therefore,USP1 may serve not only as a prognostic biomarker but also as a potential molecular target of SCLC therapy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32300133 to SZ.and 32100106 to YR)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2023M730965 to SZ.)+3 种基金the Science and Technology Department of Henan Province(232102311103 to SZ.)the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)Youth Innovation Promotion Association(2023351 to YR)the Hubei Province Natural Science Funds(2023AFA008 and 2023AFB582 to YR)the Open project of the State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs,Henan University(FX3020A030002).
文摘Human enterovirus A71(EV-A71)is a major causative agent of hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD),which poses a significant public health threat,particularly among young children.Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein(MAVS)and interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3)are vital proteins for the induction of type I interferons(IFN-I)and downstream interferon-stimulated genes(ISGs)during EVA71 infection.While posttranslational modifications are known to critically influence viral infection processes,the mechanisms by which EV-A71 exploits host deubiquitinases(DUBs)for immune evasion remain poorly understood.In this study,we demonstrated that EV-A71 infection upregulated ubiquitinspecific protease 5(USP5)expression.Knockdown of USP5 not only inhibited EV-A71 replication but also observably increased the production of IFN-I and ISGs.Furthermore,USP5 also regulated the replication of EV-D68 and CVA16 and the production of IFN-I and ISGs.Mechanistically,USP5 physically interacted with MAVS and IRF3 and reduced the K63-linked polyubiquitination of MAVS and IRF3.Conversely,USP5 knockdown increased the K63-linked polyubiquitination of MAVS and IRF3,thereby accelerating the phosphorylation of IRF3 and increasing IFN-I production during EV-A71 infection.Furthermore,pharmacological inhibition of USP5 with the small-molecule inhibitor PR-619 significantly potentiated the antiviral effects of IFN against EV-A71.Collectively,our findings reveal a previously unrecognized role of USP5 in facilitating EV-A71 immune evasion by dampening MAVSand IRF3-mediated antiviral signaling.These insights provide a novel therapeutic avenue for combating EV-A71 infection through targeted modulation of the USP5-IRF3 axis.
基金Acknowledgment We thank the laboratory, clinical and paramedical staff of the center of Reproductive Medicine, and the Departmerit of Forensic Medicine, Pathology for their assistance. We especially thank Dr Sheng-Bin Li for practical support. This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 30471735） and Science ＆ Technique Research Intensive Project of Education Ministry of China （No.105157） and Sci-Technical Development Project of Shaanxi Province, China （2005K15-G2, 2006K15-G4）.
文摘Aim： To study the incidence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in ubiquitin-specific protease 26 （USP26） gene and its involvement in idiopathic male infertility in China. Methods： Routine semen analysis was performed. Infertility factors such as immunological, infectious and biochemical disorders were examined to select patients with idiopathic infertility. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of the selected patients and control population, which were examined for mutations using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Furthermore, nucleotide sequences were sequenced in some patients and controls. Results： Of 41 infertile men, 9 （22.0%, P = 0.01） had changes in USP26 gene on the X chromosome. A compound mutation （364insACA; 460G→A） was detected in 8 patients （19.5%, P = 0.01） and a 1044T→A substitution was found in 1 patient （2.4%, P 〉 0.05）. All three variations led to changes in the coding amino acids. Two substitutions predict some changes： 460G→ A changes a valine into an isoleucine, and 1044T → A substitutes a leucine for a phenylalanine. Another insertion of three nucleotides ACA causes an insertion of threonine. No other changes were found in the remaining patients and fertile controls. Conclusion： The USP26 gene might be of importance in male reproduction. Mutations in this gene might be associated with male infertility, and might negatively affect testicular function. Further research on this issue is in progress.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81760432Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province,No.20202BBGL73036and Jiangxi Provincial Outstanding Young Talents Projects,No.20204BCJ23016.
文摘BACKGROUND Ubiquitin-specific protease 15(USP15)is an important member of the ubiquitinspecific protease family,the largest deubiquitinase subfamily,whose expression is dysregulated in many types of cancer.However,the biological function and the underlying mechanisms of USP15 in gastric cancer(GC)progression have not been elucidated.AIM To explore the biological role and underlying mechanisms of USP15 in GC progression.METHODS Bioinformatics databases and western blot analysis were utilized to determine the expression of USP15 in GC.Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the correlation between USP15 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with GC.A loss-and gain-of-function experiment was used to investigate the biological effects of USP15 on GC carcinogenesis.RNA sequencing,immunofluorescence,and western blotting were performed to explore the potential mechanism by which USP15 exerts its oncogenic functions.RESULTS USP15 was up-regulated in GC tissue and cell lines.The expression level of USP15 was positively correlated with clinical characteristics(tumor size,depth of invasion,lymph node involvement,tumor-node-metastasis stage,perineural invasion,and vascular invasion),and was related to poor prognosis.USP15 knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation,invasion and epithelialmesenchymal transition(EMT)of GC in vitro,while overexpression of USP15 promoted these processes.Knockdown of USP15 inhibited tumor growth in vivo.Mechanistically,RNA sequencing analysis showed that USP15 regulated the Wnt signaling pathway in GC.Western blotting confirmed that USP15 silencing led to significant down-regulation ofβ-catenin and Wnt/β-catenin downstream genes(c-myc and cyclin D1),while overexpression of USP15 yielded an opposite result and USP15 mutation had no change.Immunofluorescence indicated that USP15 promoted nuclear translocation ofβ-catenin,suggesting activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,which may be the critical mechanism promoting GC progression.Finally,rescue experiments showed that the effect of USP15 on gastric cancer progression was dependent on Wnt/β-catenin pathway.CONCLUSION USP15 promotes cell proliferation,invasion and EMT progression of GC via regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,which suggests that USP15 is a novel potential therapeutic target for GC.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81679154
文摘BACKGROUND Intestinal ischemia reperfusion(I/R) injury is a serious but common pathophysiological process of many diseases, resulting in a high mortality rate in clinical practice. Ubiquitin-specific protease 22(USP22) acts as regulator of cell cycle progression, proliferation, and tumor invasion. Depleted USP22 expression has been reported to contribute to arrested cell cycle and disrupted generation of differentiated cell types in crypts and villi. However, the role of USP22 in intestinal damage recovery has not been investigated. Therefore, elucidation of the underlying mechanism of USP22 in intestinal I/R injury may help to improve the tissue repair and patient prognosis in clinical practice.AIM To investigate the role of USP22 in intestinal cell proliferation and regeneration after intestinal I/R injury.METHODS An animal model of intestinal I/R injury was generated in male Sprague-Dawley rats by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery followed by reperfusion.Chiu's scoring system was used to grade the damage to the intestinal mucosa. An in vitro model was developed by incubating rat intestinal epithelial IEC-6 cells in hypoxia/reoxygenation conditions in order to simulate I/R in vivo. siRNA and overexpression plasmid were used to regulate the expression of USP22. USP22,Cyclin D1, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) expression levels were measured by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry staining. Cell survival(viability) and cell cycle were evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8and flow cytometry, respectively.RESULTS USP22 expression was positively correlated with the expression levels of PCNA and Cyclin D1 both in vivo and in vitro, which confirmed that USP22 was involved in cell proliferation and intestinal regeneration after intestinal I/R injury. Decreased levels of Cyclin D1 and cell cycle arrest were observed in the USP22 knockdown group(P < 0.05), while opposite results were observed in the USP22 overexpression group(P < 0.05). In addition, increased expression of USP22 was related to improved intestinal pathology or IEC-6 cell viability after I/R or hypoxia/reoxygenation. These results suggested that USP22 may exert a protective effect on intestinal I/R injury by regulating cell proliferation and facilitating tissue regeneration.CONCLUSION USP22 is correlated with promoting intestinal cell proliferation and accelerating intestinal tissue regeneration after intestinal I/R injury and may serve as a potential target for therapeutic development for tissue repair during intestinal I/R injury.
基金support was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81572052 and 82102473)Changzhou science and technology support plan(CE20225036,CJ20210141)Young Talent Development Plan of Changzhou Health Commission(2020-233).
文摘TANK-binding kinase 1(TBK1)is an essential protein kinase for activation of interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3)and induction of the type I interferons(IFN-I).Although the biochemical regulation of TBK1 activation has been studied,little is known about how enterovirus 71(EV71)employs the deubiquitinases(DUBs)to regulate TBK1 activation for viral immune evasion.Here,we found that EV71 infection upregulated the expression of ubiquitinspecific protease 24(USP24).Further studies revealed that USP24 physically interacted with TBK1,and can reduce K63-linked polyubiquitination of TBK1.Knockdown of USP24 upregulated TBK1 K63-linked polyubiquitination,promoted the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3,and in turn improved IFN-I production during EV71 infection.As a consequence,USP24 knockdown dramatically inhibited EV71 infection.This study revealed USP24 as a novel regulator of TBK1 activation,which promotes the understanding of immune evasion mechanisms of EV71 and could provide a potential strategy for treatment of EV71 infection.
文摘Whether the 370-371insACA, 494T〉C, and 1423C〉T haplotype in ubiquitin-specific protease 26 （USP26） gene is associated with male infertility is controversial. To clarify this issue, we conducted a meta-analysis based on the most recent studies. Eligible studies were screened by using PubMed and Embase. Pooled odd ratio （OR） with 95% confidence interval （CI） was calculated with fixed effect models. Ten studies with 1603 patients and 2505 controls were included, Overall, the results indicated that there was an association between the haplotype and male infertile risk （OR = 1.74, 95% CI： 1.09-2.77）. The OR calculated based on the five studies in Asia and three in Europe was 1.96 （95% CI： 1,05-3.67） and 1.54 （95% Ch 0.75-3.16） respectively, however, the OR was 0.86 （95% Ch 0.05-15,29） based on the two investigations in America. In addition, the data from the patients with azoospermia （AZO） showed an increased pooled OR of 2.35 （95% Cl： 1.22-4.50）. In contrast, the studies with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia （OAT） exhibited that the pooled OR was 0,97 （95% Ch 0.43-2.16）. Our analyses indicate that there is an association of alteration in USP26 with male infertility, especially in AZO and Asian population.
基金Anhui Provincial Health Research Project,No.AHWJ2022c036.
文摘BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one very usual tumor together with higher death rate.Ubiquitin-specific protease 21(USP21)has been confirmed to take part into the regulation of CRC progression through serving as a facilitator.Interestingly,the promotive function of USP21 has also discovered in the progression of CRC.ZEB1 has illustrated to be modulated by USP7,USP22 and USP51 in cancers.However,the regulatory functions of USP21 on ZEB1 in CRC progression need more invest-igations.AIM To investigate the relationship between USP21 and ZEB1 in CRC progression.METHODS The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed through RT-qPCR,western blot and IHC assay.The interaction between USP21 and ZEB1 was evaluated through Co-IP and GST pull down assays.The cell proliferation was detected through colony formation assay.The cell migration and invasion abilities were determined through Transwell assay.The stemness was tested through sphere formation assay.The tumor growth was evaluated through in vivo mice assay.RESULTS In this work,USP21 and ZEB1 exhibited higher expression in CRC,and resulted into poor prognosis.Moreover,the interaction between USP21 and ZEB1 was further investigated.It was demonstrated that USP21 contributed to the stability of ZEB1 through modulating ubiquitination level.In addition,USP21 streng-thened cell proliferation,migration and stemness through regulating ZEB1.At last,through in vivo assays,it was illustrated that USP21/ZEB1 axis aggravated tumor growth.CONCLUSION For the first time,these above findings manifested that USP21 promoted tumorigenicity and stemness of CRC by deubiquitinating and stabilizing ZEB1.This discovery suggested that USP21/ZEB1 axis may provide novel sights for the treatment of CRC.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81472598Project of Xijing Hospital,No.XJZT18MJ30.
文摘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.
文摘BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the third most frequent and the second most fatal cancer.The search for more effective drugs to treat this disease is ongoing.A better understanding of the mechanisms of CRC development and progression may reveal new therapeutic strategies.Ubiquitin-specific peptidases(USPs),the largest group of the deubiquitinase protein family,have long been implicated in various cancers.There have been numerous studies on the role of USPs in CRC;however,a comprehensive view of this role is lacking.AIM To provide a systematic review of the studies investigating the roles and functions of USPs in CRC.METHODS We systematically queried the MEDLINE(via PubMed),Scopus,and Web of Science databases.RESULTS Our study highlights the pivotal role of various USPs in several processes implicated in CRC:Regulation of the cell cycle,apoptosis,cancer stemness,epithelial–mesenchymal transition,metastasis,DNA repair,and drug resistance.The findings of this study suggest that USPs have great potential as drug targets and noninvasive biomarkers in CRC.The dysregulation of USPs in CRC contributes to drug resistance through multiple mechanisms.CONCLUSION Targeting specific USPs involved in drug resistance pathways could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for overcoming resistance to current treatment regimens in CRC.
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant No.82072838)Tongji Outstanding Young Researcher Funding(grant No.2020YQ13)Huazhong University of Science and Technology(grant No.2019kfyXKJC06).
文摘During recent decades,the association between mutations in ubiquitin-specific protease 26(USP26)and male infertility remains doubtful.We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the association between mutations in USP26 and male infertility according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)2020 guidelines.It was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews(PROSPERO;CRD42021225251).PubMed,Web of Science,and Scopus were systematically searched for comparative clinical studies,which were written in English and provided eligible data.Studies were included when they compared USP26 mutations in azoospermic,oligozoospermic,and asthenozoospermic patients with controls with normal sperm parameter values or whose partners had experienced spontaneous pregnancy.Pooled odds ratio(OR)with 95%confidence interval(CI)was calculated with random effect models.Overall,twelve studies with 3927 infertility patients and 4648 healthy controls were included.The association between overall USP26 mutations and infertility was not significant(OR=1.60,95%CI:0.51-5.01).For specific mutations,the pooled ORs were 1.65(95%CI:1.02-2.69)for cluster mutation(including 370-371insACA,494T>C,and 1423C>T),1.80(95%CI:0.35-9.15)for c.576G>A,1.43(95%CI:0.79-2.56)for c.1090C>T,and 3.59(95%CI:2.30-5.59)for c.1737G>A.Our results suggest that several mutations(cluster mutation,c.1737G>A)may play roles in male infertility,while others(c.576G>A and c.1090C>T)do not show notable associations with male infertility.More high-quality clinical researches are needed for validation.
文摘Objective Ubiquitin-specific protease 4(USP4)facilitates the development of transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in various cancer cells.Moreover,EMT of renal tubular epithelial cells(RTECs)is required for the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis.However,the role of USP4 in EMT of RTECs remains unknown.The present study aimed to explore the effect of USP4 on the EMT of RTECs as well as the involved mechanism.Methods In established unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO)rats and NRK-52E cells,immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were performed.Results USP4 expression was increased significantly with obstruction time.In NRK-52E cells stimulated by TGF-β1,USP4 expression was increased in a time-dependent manner.In addition,USP4 silencing with specific siRNA indicated that USP4 protein was suppressed effectively.Meanwhile,USP4 siRNA treatment restored E-cadherin and weakened alpha smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)expression,indicating that USP4 may promote EMT.After treatment with USP4 siRNA and TGF-β1 for 24 h,the expression of TGF-β1 receptor type I(TβRI)was decreased.Conclusion USP4 promotes the EMT of RTECs through upregulating TβRI,thereby facilitating renal interstitial fibrosis.These findings may provide a potential target of USP4 in the treatment of renal fibrosis.
基金supported by grants from University of South China Innovation Foundation For Postgraduate(233YXC001)Postgraduate Scientific Research Innovation Project of Hunan Province(CX20230955)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82103171,Jianbo Feng)the Clinical Medical Research“4310”Program of the University of South China(20224310NHYCG07).
文摘Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor and the leading cause ofcancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Great progress has been recently achieved incontrolling breast cancer;however, mortality from breast cancer remains a substantial challenge, and new treatment mechanisms are being actively sought. Programmed cell death(PCD) is associated with the progression and treatment of many types of human cancers.PCD can be divided into multiple pathways including autophagy, apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and anoikis. Ubiquitination is a post-translationalmodification process in which ubiquitin, a 76-amino acid protein, is coupled to the lysine residues of other proteins. Ubiquitination is involved in many physiological events and promotescancer development and progression. This review elaborates the role of ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) in programmed cell death, which is common in breast cancer cells, and lays thefoundation for tumor diagnosis and targeted therapy.
文摘A mutant isolated from a screen of EMS-mutagenized Arabidopsis lines, per1, showed normal root hair development under control conditions but displayed an inhibited root hair elongation phenotype upon Pi deficiency. Additionally, the per1 mutant exhibited a pleiotropic phenotype under control conditions, resembling Pi-deficient plants in several aspects. Inhibition of root hair elongation upon growth on low Pi media was reverted by treatment with the Pi analog phosphite, suggesting that the mutant phenotype is not caused by a lack of Pi. Reciprocal grafting experiments revealed that the mutant rootstock is sufficient to cause the phenotype. Complementation analyses showed that the PER1 gene encodes an ubiquitin-specific protease, UBP14. The mutation caused a synonymous substitution in the 12th exon of this gene, resulting in a lower abundance of the UBP14 protein, probably as a consequence of reduced translation efficiency. Transcriptional profiling of per1 and wild-type plants subjected to short-term Pi starvation revealed genes that may be important for the signaling of Pi deficiency. We conclude that UBP14 function is crucial for adapting root development to the prevailing local availability of phosphate.
基金supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFA0505202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81700475)the Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases and the State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes (KF2107)。
文摘Deubiquitinates(DUBs) alter the stabilities, localizations or activities of substrates by removing their ubiquitin conjugates,which are closely related to the development of inflammatory response. Here, we show that ubiquitin-specific protease 47(USP47) prevents inflammation development in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Compared with wild-type mice, Usp47 knockout mice are more susceptible to dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced acute and chronic colitis with higher inflammatory cytokines expression and severe intestinal tissue damage. Chimeric mouse experiments suggest that non-hematopoietic cells mainly contribute to the phenotype. And, DSS-induced colitis of the Usp47 knockout mice depends on commensal bacteria.Mechanistically, down-regulation of USP47 aggravates the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway by increasing the K63-linked poly-ubiquitination of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6) in intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, the expression of USP47, negatively correlated with the degree of inflammation, is lower at colonic inflammatory lesions than that non-inflammatory sites from the intestine from ulcerative colitis(UC) and Crohn's disease(CD) patients. These data, taken together, indicate that USP47 regulates intestinal inflammation through de-ubiquitination of K63-linked poly-ubiquitination TRAF6 in intestinal epithelial cells.
基金This work was supported in part by,grants from the National Key R&D Program of China(Nos.2021YFC2301900 and 2301904)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81930062,81672004 to ZWY,and 31900457,82272304 to GWY)+2 种基金the Science and Technology Department,of Jilin_Province,(Nos.20190101003JH,20200201422JC,20190201272JC,YDZJ202201ZYTS671,and YDZJ202201ZYTS590)Program of Jilin Finance Department(No.2019SRCJ017)the Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology,Jilin Province(No.20102209).
文摘Background: Ubiquitination plays an essential role in many biological processes, including viral infection, and can be reversed by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Although some studies discovered that DUBs inhibit or enhance viral infection by various mechanisms, there is lack of information on the role of DUBs in virus regulation, which needs to be further investigated.Methods: Immunoblotting, real-time polymerase chain reaction,in vivo/in vitro deubiquitination, protein immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and co-localization biological techniques were employed to examine the effect of ubiquitin-specific protease 3 (USP3) on APOBEC3G (A3G) stability and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. To analyse the relationship between USP3 and HIV disease progression, we recruited 20 HIV-infected patients to detect the levels of USP3 and A3G in peripheral blood and analysed their correlation with CD4^(+) T-cell counts. Correlation was estimated by Pearson correlation coefficients (for parametric data).Results: The results demonstrated that USP3 specifically inhibits HIV-1 replication in an A3G-dependent manner. Further investigation found that USP3 stabilized 90% to 95% of A3G expression by deubiquitinating Vif-mediated polyubiquitination and blocking its degradation in an enzyme-dependent manner. It also enhances the A3G messenger RNA (mRNA) level by binding to A3G mRNA and stabilizing it in an enzyme-independent manner. Moreover, USP3 expression was positively correlated with A3G expression (r= 0.5110) and CD4^(+) T-cell counts (r= 0.5083) in HIV-1-infected patients.Conclusions: USP3 restricts HIV-1 viral infections by increasing the expression of the antiviral factor A3G. Therefore, USP3 may be an important target for drug development and serve as a novel therapeutic strategy against viral infections.
基金grants to Qing-Fang Sun from National Natural Science Foundation of China，National High-tech R&D Program (863 program)
文摘Background： Two recent whole-exome sequencing researches identifying somatic mutations in the ubiquitin-specific protease 8 （USP8） gene in pituitary corticotroph adenomas provide exciting advances in this field. These mutations drive increased epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） signaling and promote adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） production. This study was to investigate whether the inhibition of USP8 activity could be a strategy/br the treatment of Cushing＇s disease （CD）. Methods： The anticancer effect of USP8 inhibitor was determined by testing cell viability, colony tbrmation, apoptosis, and ACTH secretion. The immunoblotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were conducted to explore the signaling pathway by USP8 inhibition. Results： Inhibition of USP8-induced degradation of receptor tyrosine kinases including EGFR, EGFR-2 （ERBB2）, and Met leading to a suppression of ArT20 cell growth and ACTH secretion. Moreover, treatment with USP8 inhibitor markedly induced AtT20 cells apoptosis. Conclusions： Inhibition of USP8 activity could be an effective strategy for CD. It might provide a novel pharmacological approach for the treatment of CD.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant 31871909)the Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice(Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center)(2019KF04).
文摘Ubiquitin-specific protease(UBP)family is the largest group of deubiquitinases,which plays important roles in eukaryotic organisms.Comprehensive analysis of UBP genes has not been conducted in the plant pathogenic fungi.In this study,11 putative UBP genes were identified and characterized in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.Expression profile analysis showed that UBP3,UBP6,UBP12 and UBP14 were highly expressed in different tissues of M.oryzae.In all ubp mutants,especiallyΔubp3,Δubp12 and previously reportedΔubp14,the ubiquitination levels were evidently elevated,which is consistent with their molecular roles in de-ubiquitination.TheΔubp1,Δubp3,Δubp4,Δubp8 andΔubp14 mutants were reduced in colony growth.Most of the ubp mutants were severely reduced in conidia production capacity,indicating important roles of the UBPs in conidia formation.Except forΔubp2 andΔubp16,all of the other mutants were decreased in virulence to host plants and defective in invasive growth.These ubp mutants also induced massive ROS accumulation in host cells.We also found that the UBPs may function as both positive and negative regulators in stress response and nutrient utilization of M.oryzae.Collectively,UBPs are important for development,stress response,nutrient utilization and infection of M.oryzae.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.:82374095)the Shaanxi Province Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars,China(Grant No.:2023-JC-JQ-59)+1 种基金the Shaanxi Province Science and Technology Development Plan Project,China(Project No.:2022ZDLSF05-05)the Shaanxi Province Key Research Development Plan Project,China(Project No.:2023-YBSF-523).
文摘The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and its stability is regulated by ubiquitination.However,the regulatory mechanisms underlying NLRP3 deubiquitination and its role in HCC metastasis remains unclear.We demonstrated that ubiq protease 50(USP50)directly interacts with NLRP3,exhibiting deubiquitinase(DUB)activity through cleavage of K48-linked polyubiquitination chains to stabilize NLRP3 by preventing proteasomal degradation.Clinically,we observed that low NLRP3 and highβ-catenin levels were negatively correlated in HCC specimens.Subsequent mechanistic exploration that NLRP3 exerts negative regulation onβ-catenin by binding with glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta(GSK3β),reversing the downstream epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)process,and inhibiting HCC metastasis.Notably,USP50 was found to activate NLRP3 masome by promoting nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)signaling,consequently enhancing proin cytokines.Furthermore,USP50 overexpression negatively regulatedβ-catenin,reversed EMT process and inhibited HCC metastasis in vivo.In conclusion,USP50 has emerged as a key player in regulating the NLRP3 and inhibiting HCC metastasis by reversing the EMT process.As a result,it presents itself as a promising therapeutic target for HCC in the clinical setting.The intricacies of this regulatory mechanism,as revealed by our study,provide valuable insights into the understanding and potential interventions for HCC.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82103173 and No.82460461Medical Subject Leader of Yunnan Province(General Surgery),No.D-2024029+1 种基金Yunnan Fundamental Research Project for Excellent Young Scholars,No.202401AW070003the Young and Mid-aged Academic and Technical Leader Reserve Talent Program of Yunnan Province,No.202205AC160063。
文摘This letter comments on the recently published manuscript by Yu et al,in which the authors revealed a novel mechanism by which the m6A-modified long noncoding RNA kinesin family member 9-antisense RNA 1 promotes stemness and sorafenib resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)through ubiquitinspecific peptidase 1-mediated deubiquitination of oncogene short stature homeobox 2.Given the high mortality rate and poor prognosis of HCC,the findings by Yu et al open a new avenue for overcoming HCC burden by focusing on kinesin family member 9-antisense RNA 1 and short stature homeobox 2 as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
