1. Academic Validation
  2. Epinephrine promotes breast cancer metastasis through a ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22-mediated lipolysis circuit

Epinephrine promotes breast cancer metastasis through a ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22-mediated lipolysis circuit

  • Sci Adv. 2024 Aug 16;10(33):eado1533. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1533.
Yuanzhang Zhou 1 Peng Chu 1 2 Ya Wang 3 Na Li 1 Qiong Gao 1 4 Shengnan Wang 1 4 Juncheng Wei 4 Guoqing Xue 1 Yue Zhao 5 Huijun Jia 1 Jiankun Song 1 Yue Zhang 3 Yujie Pang 3 Houyu Zhu 1 Jia Sun 2 Suxian Ma 2 Chen Su 1 Bingjin Hu 2 Zhuoyue Zhao 1 Hui Zhang 6 Janice Lu 7 Jian Wang 8 Hongjiang Wang 3 Zhaolin Sun 1 2 Deyu Fang 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.
  • 2 Dalian College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.
  • 3 Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.
  • 4 Department of Pathology & Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
  • 5 Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian 116000, China.
  • 6 Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
  • 7 Department of Medicine & Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
  • 8 State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China.
Abstract

Chronic stress-induced epinephrine (EPI) accelerates breast Cancer progression and metastasis, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we found a strong positive correlation between circulating EPI levels and the tumoral expression of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) in patients with breast Cancer. USP22 facilitated EPI-induced breast Cancer progression and metastasis by enhancing adipose triglyceride Lipase (ATGL)-mediated lipolysis. Targeted USP22 deletion decreased ATGL expression and lipolysis, subsequently inhibiting EPI-mediated breast Cancer lung metastasis. USP22 acts as a bona fide Deubiquitinase for the ATGL gene transcription factor FOXO1, and EPI architects a lipolysis signaling pathway to stabilize USP22 through AKT-mediated phosphorylation. Notably, USP22 phosphorylation levels are positively associated with EPI and with downstream pathways involving both FOXO1 and ATGL in breast cancers. Pharmacological USP22 inhibition synergized with β-blockers in treating preclinical xenograft Breast Cancer Models. This study reveals a molecular pathway behind EPI's tumor-promoting effects and provides a strong rationale for combining USP22 inhibition with β-blockers to treat aggressive breast Cancer.

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