2. Academic Validation
  3. Drp1-dependent remodeling of mitochondrial morphology triggered by EBV-LMP1 increases cisplatin resistance

Drp1-dependent remodeling of mitochondrial morphology triggered by EBV-LMP1 increases cisplatin resistance

  • Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2020 May 20;5(1):56. doi: 10.1038/s41392-020-0151-9.
Longlong Xie 1 2 3,  Feng Shi 1 2 3,  Yueshuo Li 1 2 3,  We Li 1 2 3,  Xinfang Yu 1 2 3,  Lin Zhao 1 2 3,  Min Zhou 1 2 3,  Jianmin Hu 1 2 3,  Xiangjian Luo 1 2 3 4,  Min Tang 1 2 3 4,  Jia Fan 5,  Jian Zhou 5,  Qiang Gao 5,  Weizhong Wu 5,  Xin Zhang 6,  Weihua Liao 7,  Ann M Bode 8,  Ya Cao 9 10 11 12 13 14
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Invasion, Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
  • 2 Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
  • 3 Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Chinese Ministry of Health, Changsha, 410078, China.
  • 4 Molecular Imaging Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
  • 5 Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Chinese Ministry of Education, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200000, China.
  • 6 Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
  • 7 Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
  • 8 The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, 55912, USA.
  • 9 Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Invasion, Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China. [email protected].
  • 10 Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China. [email protected].
  • 11 Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Chinese Ministry of Health, Changsha, 410078, China. [email protected].
  • 12 Molecular Imaging Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China. [email protected].
  • 13 Research Center for Technologies of Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostics and Therapeutics Hunan Province, Changsha, 410078, China. [email protected].
  • 14 National Joint Engineering Research Center for Genetic Diagnostics of Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Changsha, 410078, China. [email protected].
PMID: 32433544 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0151-9
Abstract

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is a major Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded oncoprotein involved in latency Infection that regulates mitochondrial functions to facilitate cell survival. Recently, mitochondrial fission has been demonstrated as a crucial mechanism in oncovirus-mediated carcinogenesis. Mitochondrial dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)-mediated mitochondrial fission has an impact on the chemoresistance of cancers. However, the mechanism by which oncogenic stress promotes mitochondrial fission, potentially contributing to tumorigenesis, is not entirely understood. The role of Drp1 in the oncogenesis and prognosis of EBV-LMP1-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was determined in our study. We show that EBV-LMP1 exhibits a new function in remodeling mitochondrial morphology by activating Drp1. A high level of p-Drp1 (Ser616) or a low level of p-Drp1 (Ser637) correlates with poor overall survival and disease-free survival. Furthermore, the protein level of p-Drp1 (Ser616) is related to the clinical stage (TNM stage) of NPC. Targeting Drp1 impairs mitochondrial function and induces cell death in LMP1-positive NPC cells. In addition, EBV-LMP1 regulates Drp1 through two oncogenic signaling axes, AMPK and cyclin B1/CDK1, which promote cell survival and cisplatin resistance in NPC. Our findings provide novel insight into the role of EBV-LMP1-driven mitochondrial fission in regulating Drp1 phosphorylation at serine 616 and serine 637. Disruption of Drp1 could be a promising therapeutic strategy for LMP1-positive NPC.

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