Platinum-based chemotherapy remains one of the major choices for treatment of ovarian cancer (OC). However, primary or acquired drug resistance severely impairs their efficiency, thereby causing chemotherapy failure and poor prognosis. SH3 domain containing ring finger 2 (SH3RF2) has been linked to the development of cancer. Here we find higher levels of SH3RF2 in the tumor tissues from cisplatin-resistant OC patients when compared to those from cisplatin-sensitive patients. Similarly, cisplatin-resistant OC cells also express higher levels of SH3RF2 than normal OC cells. Through in vitro and in vivo loss-of-function experiments, SH3RF2 is identified as a driver of cisplatin resistance, as evidenced by increases in cisplatin-induced cell apoptosis and DNA damage and decreases in cell proliferation induced by SH3RF2 depletion. Mechanistically, SH3RF2 can directly bind to the RNA-binding protein mRNA processing factor (RBPMS). RBPMS has been reported as an inhibitor of cisplatin resistance in OC. As a E3 ligase, SH3RF2 promotes the K48-linked ubiquitination of RBPMS to increase its proteasomal degradation and activator protein 1 (AP-1) transactivation. Impairments in RBPMS function reverse the inhibitory effect of SH3RF2 depletion on cisplatin resistance. Collectively, the SH3RF2-RBPMS-AP-1 axis is an important regulator in cisplatin resistance and inhibition of SH3RF2 may be a potential target in preventing cisplatin resistance.
Purpose Optic nerve injury (ONI) causes neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration leading to visual deficits. The response of microglia has emerged as an impactful component of etiology in neurodegeneration. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SIRT1-mTORC1 signaling pathway in microglia regulation after ONI. Methods Cx3Cr1-Cre ERT2 / Raptor F/F and Cx3Cr1-Cre ERT2 / Sirt1 F/F mice were used to delete Raptor and Sirt1 in microglia, respectively. Optic nerve crush (ONC) model was established to mimic ONI. PLX5622, a highly specific inhibitor of the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), is used to eliminate microglia in optic nerve. Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) immunostaining was used to detect microglial activation. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were quantified by Nissl staining and retinal whole-mount immunostaining with RNA-binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS). Axonal damage was valued by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results Microglial activation emerged on day 3 post ONC and was earlier than RGCs loss which occurred at day 5 after injury. Depleting microglia with PLX5622 could attenuate the loss of RGCs and axon damage after ONC. Gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that SIRT1 determined the activation of microglia in optic nerve. In addition, microglia-specific deletion of Raptor resulted in decreased microglial activation. Interestingly, activating mTORC1 with CCT007093 could reverse the function of SIRT1 in regulating the process of microglial activation mediated RGCs loss. Conclusion Our study reveals a potential novel mechanism of SIRT1-mTORC1 pathway in microglia regulation, and indicates a therapeutic potential for the protection of RGCs in ONI.