USP22 positively modulates ERα action via its deubiquitinase activity in breast cancer

Cell Death Differ. 2020 Nov;27(11):3131-3145. doi: 10.1038/s41418-020-0568-2. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Abstract

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) is the crucial factor in ERα-positive breast cancer progression. Endocrine therapies targeting ERα signaling is one of the widely used therapeutic strategies for breast cancer. However, a large number of the patients become refractory to therapy. Abnormal expression of ERα co-regulator facilitates breast cancer development and tendency of endocrine resistance. Thus, it is necessary to discover the novel co-regulators modulating ERα action. Here, we demonstrate that histone deubiquitinase USP22 is highly expressed in breast cancer samples compared with that in the benign tissue, and high expression of USP22 was significantly associated with poorer overall survival in BCa samples. Moreover, USP22 associates with ERα to be involved in maintenance of ERα stability. USP22 enhances ERα-induced transactivation. We further provide the evidence that USP22 is recruited together with ERα to cis-regulatory elements of ERα target gene. USP22 promotes cell growth even under hypoxia condition and with the treatment of ERα antagonist in breast cancer cells. Importantly, the deubiquitination activity of USP22 is required for its functions on maintenance of ERα stability, thereby enhancing ERα action and conferring endocrine resistance in breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes, Null
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Signal Transduction
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / genetics
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Histones
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
  • Usp22 protein, human