Mingzhi Wu,Xiaojun Zhou,Xinyi Zhou,Genxin Wang,Yiqun Zeng,Jun Li,Edward V. Prochownik,Fubing Wang,Youjun Li
Cholesterol metabolism reprogramming plays essential roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, precisely how cholesterol metabolism is dysregulated is not clear. Here, we show that the palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC3 and depalmitoylase ABHD17A regulate HCC cell cholesterol biosynthesis by dynamically S-acylating SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP). SCAP S-acylation by ZDHHC3 at C264 antagonizes HACE1-mediated SCAP ubiquitination. Intriguingly, SREBP2 transcriptionally upregulates ZDHHC3 to form a positive feedback loop, which explains why negative feedback regulation of SCAP/SREBP2 signaling fails in HCC. Increased cholesterol in the tumor microenvironment (TME) restrains CD4 + T cell cytotoxicity. Hence, the cholesterol metabolism reprogramming and cholesterol level alternation in the TME cooperate to promote HCC development. We identified a small-molecule inhibitor of ZDHHC3 that, combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, inhibited diethyl nitrosamine (DEN)/CCl 4 -induced HCC growth in mice. ZDHHC3-mediated SCAP S-acylation reprograms cholesterol metabolism and promotes HCC immune escape. ZDHHC3 is thus identified as a rational chemotherapy target for HCC.
Yao Han,Lan Jiang,Li Chushu,Shi Hubing,Brosseau Jean-Philippe,Wang Huanbin,Lu Haojie,Fang Caiyun,Zhang Yao,Liang Lunxi,Zhou Xiaolin,Wang Chaojun,Xue Yu,Cui Yun,Xu Jie
Checkpoint blockade therapy targeting the programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and its receptor programmed cell death 1 promotes T-cell-mediated immunosurveillance against tumours, and has been associated with marked clinical benefit in cancer patients. Antibodies against PD-L1 function by blocking PD-L1 on the cell surface, but intracellular storage of PD-L1 and its active redistribution to the cell membrane can minimize the therapeutic benefits, which highlights the importance of targeting PD-L1 throughout the whole cell. Here, we show that PD-L1 is palmitoylated in its cytoplasmic domain, and that this lipid modification stabilizes PD-L1 by blocking its ubiquitination, consequently suppressing PD-L1 degradation by lysosomes. We identified palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC3 (DHHC3) as the main acyltransferase required for the palmitoylation of PD-L1, and show that the inhibition of PD-L1 palmitoylation via 2-bromopalmitate, or the silencing of DHHC3, activates antitumour immunity in vitro and in mice bearing MC38 tumour cells. We also designed a competitive inhibitor of PD-L1 palmitoylation that decreases PD-L1 expression in tumour cells to enhance T-cell immunity against the tumours. These findings suggest new strategies for overcoming PD-L1-mediated immune evasion in cancer.