2. Academic Validation
  3. SCARB2 drives hepatocellular carcinoma tumor initiating cells via enhanced MYC transcriptional activity

SCARB2 drives hepatocellular carcinoma tumor initiating cells via enhanced MYC transcriptional activity

  • Nat Commun. 2023 Sep 22;14(1):5917. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41593-z.
Feng Wang # 1,  Yang Gao # 1 2,  Situ Xue # 1,  Luyao Zhao 1,  Huimin Jiang 1,  Tingting Zhang 1,  Yunxuan Li 1,  Chenxi Zhao 1,  Fan Wu 3,  Tana Siqin 3,  Ying Liu 1,  Jie Wu 1,  Yechao Yan 1,  Jian Yuan 4 5,  Jian-Dong Jiang 6,  Ke Li 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100050, Beijing, China.
  • 2 The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008, China.
  • 3 Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
  • 4 Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China. [email protected].
  • 5 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China. [email protected].
  • 6 Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100050, Beijing, China. [email protected].
  • 7 Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100050, Beijing, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 37739936 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41593-z
Abstract

CSCs (Cancer Stem Cells) with distinct metabolic features are considered to cause HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) initiation, metastasis and therapeutic resistance. Here, we perform a metabolic gene CRISPR/Cas9 knockout library screen in tumorspheres derived from HCC cells and find that deletion of SCARB2 suppresses the Cancer stem cell-like properties of HCC cells. Knockout of Scarb2 in hepatocytes attenuates HCC initiation and progression in both MYC-driven and DEN (diethylnitrosamine)-induced HCC mouse models. Mechanistically, binding of SCARB2 with MYC promotes MYC acetylation by interfering with HDCA3-mediated MYC deacetylation on lysine 148 and subsequently enhances MYC transcriptional activity. Screening of a database of FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved drugs shows Polymyxin B displays high binding affinity for SCARB2 protein, disrupts the SCARB2-MYC interaction, decreases MYC activity, and reduces the tumor burden. Our study identifies SCARB2 as a functional driver of HCC and suggests Polymyxin B-based treatment as a targeted therapeutic option for HCC.

Figures
Products