USP27-mediated Cyclin E stabilization drives cell cycle progression and hepatocellular tumorigenesis

Oncogene. 2018 May;37(20):2702-2713. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0137-z. Epub 2018 Mar 2.

Abstract

Overexpression of Cyclin E has been seen in many types of cancers. However, the underlying mechanism remains enigmatic. Herein, we identified ubiquitin-specific peptidase 27 (USP27) as a Cyclin E interactor. We found that USP27 promoted Cyclin E stability by negatively regulating its ubiquitination. In addition, suppression of USP27 expression resulted in the inhibition of the growth, migration, and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, we detected a positive correlation between USP27 and Cyclin E expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. Finally, we found that USP27 expression is inhibited by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment and USP27 depletion sensitizes Hep3B cells to 5-FU-induced apoptosis. USP27-mediated Cyclin E stabilization is involved in tumorigenesis, suggesting that targeting USP27 may represent a new therapeutic strategy to treat cancers with aberrant overexpression of Cyclin E protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cyclin E / chemistry*
  • Cyclin E / metabolism*
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Protein Stability
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Cyclin E
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • USP27X protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases
  • Fluorouracil