Dongsheng Huang

Background LRRC41 is critical for the progression of multiple cancers, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet its oncogenic mechanism in HCC remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism by which LRRC41 promotes HCC malignancy and investigate the therapeutic potential of inhibiting its mediated signalling pathway. Methods LRRC41 expression in HCC was analysed via the TCGA, HPA databases and experimental detection. Its biological functions were assessed by in vitro CCK-8, Transwell, colony formation assays and in vivo xenograft models. IP–MS, Co-IP and ubiquitination assays were used to elucidate the molecular mechanism, and the anti-tumour effect of the USP7 inhibitor P6620 was verified in vitro and in vivo. Results LRRC41 was abnormally overexpressed in HCC and correlated with poor prognosis, promoting HCC cell proliferation, invasion and tumorigenesis. USP7 stabilised LRRC41 via deubiquitination, and LRRC41 activated the NF-κB pathway by targeting HNRNPC in a K63-linked ubiquitination-dependent manner. P6620 inhibited the USP7/LRRC41 axis to suppress HCC malignancy, and its combination with lenvatinib enhanced in vivo anti-tumor efficacy. Conclusions LRRC41 overexpression drives HCC progression and poor prognosis; the novel USP7/LRRC41/HNRNPC/NF-κB axis is identified in HCC. USP7 inhibitor P6620 blocks this axis and may serve as a potential agent for HCC combination chemotherapy. The regulatory mechanism of the USP7/LRRC41/HNRNPC/NF-κB signalling axis in HCC. Created with Figdraw.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with a complex tumor ecosystem that contributes to its progression. Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are vital regulators in cancer. However, the overall activity of DUBs and their role in driving PDAC progression within immune microenvironment remain largely unknown. Methods: We employed an integrative multi-omics strategy combining machine learning (ML) on bulk transcriptomic data, single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomic profiling. We applied Coxnet and Fuzzy SVM for prognostic modeling, inferCNV for malignant cell identification, SCENIC for transcription factor regulon analysis, LIANA ⁺ for inferring inter−cellular communication networks and cell2location for spatial deconvolution. USP54 expression was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. USP54 function was validated through in vitro and in vivo assays. Results: ML-based pathway analysis revealed post−translational modification as a major prognostic category, within which elevated DUBs activity emerged as an independent adverse prognostic factor. At the single−cell level, USP54 was upregulated along the trajectory of malignant ductal cells and correlated with an inflamed tumor microenvironment. Cell−cell communication analysis predicted signaling from monocytes/macrophages to tumor cells via the THBS1−integrin ligand−receptor pair. This immune−derived signaling potentially converged on KLF5−positive tumor cells, with KLF5 identified as a putative transcriptional activator of USP54. Spatial transcriptomics validated the co−localization of USP54 expression, elevated DUB activity, and KRAS signaling within specific tumor niches adjacent to THBS1−enriched immune regions. High USP54 expression was frequently observed in PDAC tissues and associated with poor patient survival. More importantly, in both BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cell lines, USP54 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and metastasis, whereas its overexpression enhanced these malignant phenotypes. Subcutaneous xenograft growth and tail vein injection experiments validated these findings in vivo . Conclusions: Our comprehensive multi-omics analysis and experimental validation identify the deubiquitinase USP54 as a novel promoter of PDAC progression within a spatially organized tumor−immune microenvironment. These findings suggest USP54 as both a candidate prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for this lethal malignancy.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a pathophysiological process during liver transplantation, characterized by insufficient oxygen supply and su

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and its incidence and mortality rates remain high. Therefore, new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are urgently required. Family with sequence similarity 188 member B (FAM188B) encodes an evolutionarily conserved protein that is highly expressed in various cancers. While FAM188B has been implicated in the progression of several tumors, its role in HCC progression remains unknown.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, necessitating novel therapeutic targets. This study explores the oncogenic role of integrin-linked kinase-associated phosphatase (ILKAP) in HCC and its underlying mechanisms. Database analyses (TCGA, UALCAN) revealed ILKAP overexpression in HCC, correlating with poor prognosis. Functional assays demonstrated that ILKAP knockdown significantly suppressed HCC cell proliferation and migration in vitro, while xenograft models confirmed its role in tumor growth in vivo. RNA sequencing identified 357 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 48 protein-coding DEGs, with glycolytic enzyme PGAM1 notably downregulated upon ILKAP silencing. ILKAP and PGAM1 expression were positively correlated in HCC tissues, and elevated PGAM1 levels were linked to worse survival. Notably, restoring PGAM1 in ILKAP-knockdown cells rescued proliferation and invasion, underscoring PGAM1’s critical role in ILKAP-mediated tumor progression. ILKAP depletion also reduced extracellular acidification rates and altered glycolysis-related gene expression, highlighting its role in metabolic reprogramming. These findings suggest that ILKAP drives HCC malignancy by modulating PGAM1 and glycolysis, providing a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment. Further elucidation of the ILKAP-PGAM1 axis may offer new strategies for liver cancer management.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a blood cancer characterized by uncontrolled growth of myeloid cells. Overcoming AML treatment resistance, particularly to anthracycline-based drugs like doxorubicin (ADR), poses a challenge. This study investigated the role of CELF1, an RNA-binding protein, in ADR resistance and autophagy regulation in AML. CELF1 expression was elevated in multiple tumor types, including AML. AML cell lines exhibit varying levels of CELF1 expression, with drug-resistant cell lines showing higher CELF1 expression compared to parental cells. CELF1 knockdown reduced drug resistance, promoted cell death, and inhibited autophagy. Mechanistic analysis identified ATG5 as a potential CELF1-regulated target gene, with CELF1 knockdown reducing ATG5 expression and mRNA decay. These findings indicate that targeting CELF1 could overcome ADR resistance in AML by modulating autophagy through ATG5 regulation, highlighting its clinical significance as a therapeutic target for enhancing ADR response in AML.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most prevalent cancer globally and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination play vital roles in human cancers. Ubiquitin-specific protease 13 (USP13) is a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that is involved in many cellular processes. However, the mechanism by which USP13 regulates deubiquitination remains largely unknown. Clinical data were analyzed via online databases. USP13 expression in HCC cell lines and tissues was analyzed via western blotting and immunohistochemistry. A lentivirus was used to established stable USP13-knockdown and USP13-overexpression cells. Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing, Transwell, and sphere formation assays were used to detect the malignant behaviors of HCC cells in vitro. A subcutaneous mouse model was used to investigate the function of USP13 in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays were conducted to explore the molecular regulation. USP13 was upregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues, which predicted a poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Functional experiments in which USP13 was overexpressed or depleted revealed the oncogenic role of USP13 in driving HCC progression both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, WW domain–containing ubiquitin E3 ligase 1 (WWP1) was identified as a binding protein of USP13. Furthermore, USP13 can interact with WWP1 and then remove the K29- and K48-linked polyubiquitination chains from WWP1 to stabilize the WWP1 protein via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Moreover, Yin Yang 1 (YY1) was explored as a new transcription factor of USP13, and YY1 could also upregulate WWP1 expression through USP13. Moreover, YY1 and WWP1 were shown to participate in the oncogenic role of USP13. Our findings revealed the functional YY1/USP13/WWP1 signaling axis in HCC, identifying a promising therapeutic target for anti-HCC treatment.