Overexpression pattern,function,and clinical value of proteasome 26S subunit non-ATPase 6 in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND In recent years,many studies have shown that proteasome 26S subunit non-ATPase 6(PSMD6)plays an important role in the occurrence and development of malignant tumours.Unfortunately,there are no reports on the evaluation of the potential role of PSMD6 in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).AIM To comprehensively evaluate the overexpression pattern and clinical significance of PSMD6 in HCC tissues.METHODS This study integrated PSMD6 mRNA expression profiles from 4672 HCC and 3667 non-HCC tissues,along with immunohistochemical scores from 383 HCC and adjacent tissues,to assess PSMD6 overexpression in HCC.Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats knockout technology evaluated PSMD6’s essential role in HCC cell growth.Functional enrichment analysis explored the molecular mechanism of PSMD6 abnormalities in HCC.Drug sensitivity analysis and molecular docking analysed the effect of abnormal expression of PSMD6 on the drug sensitivity of HCC cells.RESULTS The results of 41 external and two internal datasets showed that PSMD6 mRNA(SMD=0.26,95%CI:0.09-0.42,P<0.05)and protein(SMD=2.85,95%CI:1.19-4.50,P<0.05)were significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues.The integrated analysis results showed that PSMD6 had a significant overexpression pattern in HCC tissues(SMD=0.40,95%CI:0.15-0.66,P<0.05).PSMD6 knockout inhibited HCC cell growth(chronos scores<-1).Functional enrichment implicated ribosome biogenesis and RNA splicing.Significant enrichment of signalling pathways such as RNA degradation,ribosomes,and chemical carcinogenesis—reactive oxygen species.Drug sensitivity analysis and a molecular docking model showed that high expression of PSMD6 was associated with the tolerance of HCC cells to drugs such as ML323,sepantronium bromide,and GDC0810.Overexpressed PSMD6 effectively distinguished HCC tissues(AUC=0.75,95%CI:0.71-0.79).CONCLUSION This study was the first to discover that PSMD6 was overexpressed in HCC tissues.PSMD6 is essential for the growth of HCC cells and may be involved in ribosome biogenesis and RNA splicing.

Ubiquitin-proteasome system and oxidative stress in liver transplantation

A major issue in organ transplantation is the development of a protocol that can preserve organs under optimal conditions. Damage to organs is commonly a consequence of flow deprivation and oxygen starvation following the restoration of blood flow and reoxygenation. This is known as ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI): a complex multifactorial process that causes cell damage. While the oxygen deprivation due to ischemia depletes cell energy, subsequent tissue oxygenation due to reperfusion induces many cascades, from reactive oxygen species production to apoptosis initiation. Autophagy has also been identified in the pathogenesis of IRI, although such alterations and their subsequent functional significance are controversial. Moreover, proteasome activation may be a relevant pathophysiological mechanism. Different strategies have been adopted to limit IRI damage, including the supplementation of commercial preservation media with pharmacological agents or additives. In this review, we focus on novel strategies related to the ubiquitin proteasome system and oxidative stress inhibition, which have been used to minimize damage in liver transplantation.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ and the ubiquitin-proteasome system in colorectal cancer

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), a transcription factor of the nuclear receptor superfamily plays a significant role in colorectal cancer pathogenesis. In most experimental systems PPARγ activation has tumor suppressing effects in the colon. PPARγ is regulated at multiple levels by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). At a first level, UPS regulates PPARγ transcription. This regulation involves both PPARγ transcription specific factors and the general transcription machinery. At a second level UPS regulates PPARγ and its co-factors themselves, as PPARγ and many co-factors are proteasome substrates. At a third level of regulation, transduction pathways working in parallel but also having interrelations with PPARγ are regulated by the UPS, creating a network of regulation in the colorectal carcinogenesisrelated pathways that are under UPS control. Activation of PPARγ transcription by direct pharmacologic activators and by stabilization of its molecule by proteasome inhibitors could be strategies to be exploited in colorectal cancer treatment.

Ubiquitin proteasome system research in gastrointestinal cancer

The ubiquitin proteasome system(UPS) is important for the degradation of proteins in eukaryotic cells. It is involved in nearly every cellular process and plays an important role in maintaining body homeostasis. An increasing body of evidence has linked alterations in the UPS to gastrointestinal malignancies,including esophageal,gastric and colorectal cancers. Here,we summarize the current literature detailing the involvement of the UPS in gastrointestinal cancer,highlighting its role in tumor occurrence and development,providing information for therapeutic targets research and antigastrointestinal tumor drug design.

Overexpression of proteasome 26S subunit non-ATPase 6 protein and its clinicopathological significance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Currently,intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC)poses a continuing,significant health challenge,but the relationship has yet to be established between ICC and the proteasome 26S subunit non-ATPase 6(PSMD6).AIM To investigate the protein expression and clinicopathological significance of PSMD6 in ICC.METHODS The potential impact of the PSMD6 gene on the growth of ICC cell lines was analyzed using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat knockout screening technology.Forty-two paired specimens of ICC and adjacent noncancerous tissues were collected.PSMD6 protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to validate PSMD6 expression level,and its association with ICC patients’various clinicopathological characteristics was investigated.RESULTS The PSMD6 gene was found to be essential for the growth of ICC cell lines.PSMD6 protein was significantly overexpressed in ICC tissues(P<0.001),but showed no significant association with patient age,gender,pathological grade,or tumor-node-metastasis stage(P>0.05).CONCLUSION PSMD6 can promote the growth of ICC cells,thus playing a pro-oncogenic role.

Administration of grape seed extract alleviates age-associated decline in ubiquitin-proteasome system and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats

Effective clearance of oxidized, damaged, and/or misfolded proteins in the cell by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is critical for cell homeostasis, survival and function. We hypothesized that in the aging heart, generation of free radicals could impair UPS where the associated build-up of polyubiquitinated proteins could trigger programmed cell death. To test this, we used young (4 months old) and aged (24 months old) rats to analyze polyubiquitinated proteins, proteasome activity and programmed cell death in the ventricular tissue samples. Our studies reveal excessive deposition of polyubiquitinated proteins in the ventricular tissue extracts of old rats when compared to younger rats. The increased ubiquitination was accompanied by a significant decrease in 20S proteasome activity. Since the loss of proteasome-mediated clearance of ubiquitinated proteins is linked to programmed cell death, we measured TUNEL activity in aged rat heart and compared with younger animals. Aged animal hearts showed a substantial increase in programmed cell death as evidenced by TUNEL positive nuclei and DNA fragmentation. Analyses of cell death/survival pathways support our findings in terms of age-associated increase in the nuclear localization of p53, Bax/Bcl2 ratio and cleaved (active) caspase-3 and decreased expression of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP1). Administration of grape seed extract (GSE) as a source of antioxidants significantly reduced these age-associated deleterious changes suggesting that free radicals primarily contribute to impaired UPS function and increased programmed cell death and that administration of antioxidants during aging could protect cardiac muscle cells and preserve ventricular function.

Is 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 6 a potential molecular target for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma?

In this editorial we comment on the article by Tang et al published in the recent issue of World Journal of Hepatology.Drug therapy of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(iCCA)poses an enormous challenge since only a small proportion of patients demonstrate beneficial responses to therapeutic agents.Thus,there has been a sustained search for novel molecular targets for iCCA.The study by Tang et al evaluated the role of 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 6(PSMD6),a 19S regulatory subunit of the proteasome,in human iCCA cells and specimens.The authors employed clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat(CRISPR)knockout screening technology integrated with the computational CERES algorithm,and analyzed the human protein atlas(THPA)database and tissue microarrays.The results show that PSMD6 is a gene essential for the proliferation of 17 iCCA cell lines,and PSMD6 protein was overexpressed in iCCA tissues without a significant correlation with the clinicopathological parameters.The authors conclude that PSMD6 may play a promoting role in iCCA.The major limitations and defects of this study are the lack of detailed information of CRISPR knockout screening,in vivo experiments,and a discussion of plausible mechanistic cues,which,therefore,dampen the significance of the results.Further studies are required to verify PSMD6 as a molecular target for developing novel therapeutics for iCCA.In addition,the editorial article summarizes the latest advances in molecular targeted drugs and recently emerging immunotherapy in the clinical management of iCCA,development of proteasome inhibitors for cancer therapy,and advantages of CRISPR screening technology,computational methods,and THPA database as experimental tools for fighting cancer.We hope that these comments may provide some clues for those engaged in the field of basic and clinical research into iCCA.

Ubiquitination in diabetes and its complications:A perspective from bibliometrics

BACKGROUND Diabetes has a substantial impact on public health,highlighting the need for novel treatments.Ubiquitination,an intracellular protein modification process,is emerging as a promising strategy for regulating pathological mechanisms.We hypothesize that ubiquitination plays a critical role in the development and progression of diabetes and its complications,and that understanding these mechanisms can lead to new therapeutic approaches.AIM To uncover the research trends and advances in diabetes ubiquitination and its complications,we conducted a bibliometric analysis.METHODS Studies on ubiquitination in diabetes mellitus and its complications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection.Visual mapping analysis was conducted using the CiteSpace software.RESULTS We gathered 791 articles published over the past 23 years,focusing on ubiquitination in diabetes and its associated complications.These articles originated from 54 countries and 386 institutions,with China as the leading contributor.Shanghai Jiao Tong University has the highest number of publications in this field.The most prominent authors contributing to this research area include Wei-Hua Zhang,with Zhang Y being the most frequently cited author.Additionally,The Journal of Biological Chemistry is noted as the most cited in this field.The predominant keywords included expression,activation,oxidative stress,phosphorylation,ubiquitination,degradation,and insulin resistance.CONCLUSION The role of ubiquitination in diabetes and its complications,such as diabetic nephropathy and cardiomyopathy,is a key research focus.However,these areas require further investigations.

Neuroendocrine differentiation and the ubiquitinproteasome system in cancer:Partners or enemies?

Neuroendocrine(NE)differentiation of cancer and deregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system(UPS)are two processes that have been independently linked to the development of aggressive and treatment-resistant tumors.Striking data suggest a plausible interconnection between these two mechanisms,based on indirect evidence of neuropeptide-induced effects on UPS,reversed by proteasome inhibition and deubiquitinaselike properties of NE markers.Deciphering the model of their exact interactions is one of the keys to targeting the NE malignant phenotype more effectively.

Polyubiquitination and Proteasome Signals in Tubulobulbar Complexes of Rat Late Spermatids

To illustrate the involvement of tubulobulbar complexes (TBC) in ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of unnecessary proteins in the head cytoplasm of late spermatids, the localization of polyubiquitin and proteasome was studied by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Polyubiquitin localized to TBC and proteasome subunit α to dense materials surrounding the TBC in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cell enwrapping sickle-shaped spermatid heads. The results suggest that the TBC is a structural device for ubiquin-proteasome degradation of unnecessary proteins in the cytoplasm of spermatid head during rapid reduction of the head cytoplasm and nuclear compaction of late spermatids.

人源蛋白酶体α亚基6(Proteasome subunit alpha 6)在酿酒酵母表面展示

为构建人源蛋白酶体α亚基6(α6)的酵母展示体系,研制其单克隆抗体用于抗体表位分析和研究泛素-蛋白酶体途径,建立绕过重组抗原表达及纯化制备、将展示重组抗原直接应用于抗体检测的方法.在酵母展示表达载体pICAS中引入His.tag标签,将编码α6的基因PSA6_HUMAN克隆到酵母表面展示载体pICAS-H上,用流式细胞仪检测其抗原表位活性,以表面展示α6的重组酵母细胞,结合酶联吸附免疫检测技术,建立酵母(yeast)-ELISA检测技术,应用于检测小鼠单克隆抗体及单抗效价.酵母细胞培养48h后获得抗原α6的高效表面展示,展示的α6具有良好的抗原活性和特异性,将α6的展示酵母用于yeast-ELISA的初步实验结果显示可有效检测和筛选到抗α6抗体.

老年白内障患者晶状体中20s Proteasome的表达

目的探讨老年性白内障患者晶状体中20s Proteasome表达及酶活性的变化及其与白内障发病的关系。方法分别应用Western印迹法及荧光标记蛋白质底物法检测老年性白内障患者晶状体中20s Proteasome的表达及酶活性变化。结果随着晶状体混浊程度及核硬度的增加,20s Proteasome的表达及酶活性均呈下降趋势。结论在老年性白内障发病过程中,20s Proteasome与晶状体混浊程度相关。

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Proteasome β5 Fragment in Helicoverpa armigera

[Objective] Using molecular biotechnology to clone the proteasome β5 gene from cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), this research aimed to provide basis for further research on the function of proteasome β5 gene in cotton bollworm. [Method] Total RNA was extracted from midgut of cotton bollworm. The full length cDNA of Habeta5 gene was cloned by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technology, then sequence analysis was carried out. [Result] The full length cDNA sequence was successfully cloned and isolated, named as Habeta5. It was 947 bp in length, contained an ORF (843 bp) and encoded 280 amino acid residues, with the predicted mass of 30.87 kD and isoelectric point(pI) of 9.60. In the deduced amino acid sequence, a proteasome β5 subunit domain lies between 74th to 261st amino acid residues. It has more than 62% identity to other insects such as Drosophila melanogaster. The proteasome β5 subunit conservative regions were very similar with each other. Molecular evolution by Neighbor Joining method indicated that Habeta5 was homologous with other proteasome β5 subunit of species. [Conclusion] Sequence alignment shows that the cloned fragment is a proteasome β5 subunit gene (GenBank accession number: FJ358434).

Evolution of COP9 Signalosome and Proteasome Lid Complex

The COP9 signalosome and the regulatory lid of the 26S proteasome are both eight-subunit protein complexes which are present in most eukaryotes. There is a one-to-one relationship between the corresponding subunits of the two protein complexes in terms of their size and amino acid sequences. Eight groups of subunits from the COP9 signalosome and the proteasome lid complex of different organisms are collected from all the databases at the NCBI website. The corresponding subunits of COP9 signalosome and proteasome lid complex share at least 12% amino acid identity and some conserved regions, and the conserved sites spread evenly over the entire length of the subunits, suggesting that the two complexes have a common evolutionary ancestor. Phylogenetic analyses based on the amino acid sequences of the corresponding subunits of two protein complexes indicate that every tree consists of two clades. The subunits from one of the two protein complexes of different organisms are grouped into one of the two clades respectively. The sequences of single-cell organisms are always the basal groups to that of multi-cell animal and plant species. These results imply that the duplication/divergence events of COP9 signalosome and regulatory lid of the proteasome genes have occurred before the divergence of single-cell and multi-cell eukaryotes, and the genes of the two complexes are independently evolved. The analyses of dN/dS correlation show significant Pearson's correlations between 21 and 15 pairs of subunit-encoding sequences within the COP9 signalosome and the proteasome lid complex respectively, suggesting that those subunits pairs might have related functions and interacted with one another, and resulted in co-evolution.

The roles of the proteasome pathway in signal transduction and neurodegenerative diseases

There are two degradation systems in mammalian cells, autophagy/lysosomal pathway and ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Proteasome is consist of multiple protein subunits and plays important roles in degradation of short-lived cellular proteins. Recent studies reveal that proteasomal degradation system is also involved in signal transduction and regulation of various cellular functions. Dysfunction or dysregulation of proteasomal function may thus be an important pathogenic mechanism in certain neurological disorders. This paper reviews the biological functions of proteasome in signal transduction and its potential roles in neurodegenerative diseases.

20S proteasome and glyoxalase 1 activities decrease in erythrocytes derived from Alzheimer’s disease patients

As a result of accumulating methylglyoxal and advanced glycation end products in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease,it is considered a protein precipitation disease.The ubiquitin proteasome system is one of the most important mechanisms for cells to degrade proteins,and thus is very important for maintaining normal physiological function of the nervous system.This study recruited 48 individuals with Alzheimer’s disease(20 males and 28 females aged 75±6 years)and 50 healthy volunteers(21 males and 29 females aged 72±7 years)from the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities(Baise,China)between 2014 and 2017.Plasma levels of malondialdehyde and H2O2 were measured by colorimetry,while glyoxalase 1 activity was detected by spectrophotometry.In addition,20S proteasome activity in erythrocytes was measured with a fluorescent substrate method.Ubiquitin and glyoxalase 1 protein expression in erythrocyte membranes was detected by western blot assay.The results demonstrated that compared with the control group,patients with Alzheimer’s disease exhibited increased plasma malondialdehyde and H2O2 levels,and decreased glyoxalase 1 activity;however,expression level of glyoxalase 1 protein remained unchanged.Moreover,activity of the 20S proteasome was decreased and expression of ubiquitin protein was increased in erythrocytes.These findings indicate that proteasomal and glyoxalase activities may be involved in the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease,and erythrocytes may be a suitable tissue for Alzheimer’s disease studies.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities(approval No.YJ12017013)on May 3,2017.

Effects of ethanol on the proteasome interacting proteins

Proteasome dysfunction has been repeatedly reported in alcoholic liver disease. Ethanol metabolism endproducts affect the structure of the proteasome, and, therefore, change the proteasome interaction with its regulatory complexes 19S and PA28, as well as its interacting proteins. Chronic ethanol feeding alters the ubiquitin-proteasome activity by altering the interaction between the 19S and the 20S proteasome interaction. The degradation of oxidized and damaged proteins is thus decreased and leads to accumulation of insoluble protein aggregates, such as Mallory-Denk bodies. Ethanol also affects the immunoproteasome formation. PA28a/b interactions with the 20S proteasome are decreased in the proteasome fraction isolated from the liver of rats fed ethanol chronically, thus affecting the cellular antigen presentation and defense against pathogenic agents. Recently, it has been shown that ethanol also affects the proteasome interacting proteins (PIPs). Interaction of the proteasome with Ecm29 and with deubiquitinating enzymes Rpn11, UCH37, and Usp14 has been found to decrease. However, the two UBL-ubiquitin-associated domain (UBA) PIPs p62 and valosin-containing protein are upregulated when the proteasome is inhibited. The increase of these UBL-UBA proteins, as well as the increase in Hsp70 and Hsp25 levels, compensated for the proteasome failure and helped in the unfolding/docking of misfolded proteins. Chronic alcohol feeding to rats causes a significant inhibition of the proteasome pathway and this inhibition results from a decreases of the interaction between the 20S proteasome and the regulatory complexes, PIPs, and the ubiquitin system components.

IGF-1 promotes the growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via the inhibition of proteasome-mediated cathepsin B degradation

AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the high IGF-1 level linking diabetes and cancers, which is a risk factor.METHODS: We used cell growth, wound healing and transwell assay to evaluate the proliferation and metastasis ability of the hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cells. Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to assess a previously identified lysosomal protease, cathepsin B(CTSB) expression in the HCC cell lines. C57 BL/6J and KK-Ay diabetic mice are used to detect the growth and metastasis of HCC cells that were depleted with or without CTSB sh RNA in vivo. Statistical significance was determined by Student's t-test.RESULTS: IGF-1 promoted the growth and metastasis of the HCC cell lines via its ability to enhance CTSB expression in both a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. HCC cells grew much faster in diabetic KK-Ay mice than in C57 BL/6J mice. Additionally, more metastatic nodules were found in the lungs of KK-Ay mice than the lungs of C57 BL/6J mice. CTSB depletion protects against the tumorpromoting actions of IGF-1 in HCC cells, as well tumor growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo.IGF-1 did not change the m RNA levels of CTSB but prolonged the half-life of cathepsin B in Hepa 1-6 and H22 cells. Our results showed that IGF-1 promotes the growth and metastasis of the HCC cells most likely by hindering CTSB degradation mediated by the ubiquitinproteasome system(UPS), but not autophagy. Overexpression of proteasome activator 28, a family of activators of the 20 S proteasome, could not only restore IGF-1-inhibited UPS activity but also decrease IGF-1-induced CTSB accumulation.CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that IGF-1 promotes the growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibition of proteasome-mediated CTSB degradation.

Novel mechanism of drug resistance to proteasome inhibitors in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma(MM) is a cancer caused by uncontrolled proliferation of antibody-secreting plasma cells in bone marrow, which represents the second most common hematological malignancy. MM is a highly heterogeneous disease and can be classified into a spectrum of subgroups based on their molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities. In the past decade, novel therapies, especially, the first-in-class proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, have been revolutionary for the treatment of MM patients. Despite these remarkable achievements, myeloma remains incurable with a high frequency of patients suffering from a relapse, due to drug resistance. Mutation in the proteasome β5-subunit(PSMB5) was found in a bortezomib-resistant cell line generated via long-term coculture with increasing concentrations of bortezomib in 2008, but their actual implication in drug resistance in the clinic has not been reported until recently. A recent study discovered four resistance-inducing PSMB5 mutations from a relapsed MM patient receiving prolonged bortezomib treatment. Analysis of the dynamic clonal evolution revealed that two subclones existed at the onset of disease, while the other two subclones were induced. Protein structural modeling and functional assays demonstrated that all four mutations impaired the binding of bortezomib to the 20 S proteasome, conferring different degrees of resistance. The authors further demonstrated two potential approaches to overcome drug resistance by using combination therapy for targeting proteolysis machinery independent of the 20 S proteasome.

Anti-tumor Action and Clinical Application of Proteasome Inhibitor

Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway mediates the degradation of cell protein, and cell cycle, gene translation and expression, antigen presentation and inflammatory development. Proteasome inhibitor can inhibit growth and proliferation of tumor cell, induce apoptosis and reverse multipledrug resistance of tumor cell, increase the sensitivity of other chemotherapeutic drugs and radiotherapy, and is a novel class of potent anti-tumor agents.