Theranostics 2023; 13(1):339-354. doi:10.7150/thno.78492 This issue Cite

Research Paper

BAG2 drives chemoresistance of breast cancer by exacerbating mutant p53 aggregate

Xinjian Huang1#, Dongni Shi1#, Xuxiazi Zou2#, Xuxia Wu1#, Shumei Huang3, Lingzhi Kong1, Muwen Yang1, Yunyun Xiao1, Boyu Chen1, Xiangfu Chen1, Ying Ouyang1, Libing Song1,4✉, Yunting Jian1,5✉, Chuyong Lin1✉

1. Department of Experimental Research, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
2. Department of Breast Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
3. Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
4. Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Guangzhou Institute of Oncology, Tumor Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, 511436, Guangzhou, China.
5. Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China.
#These authors contributed equally to this work.

Citation:
Huang X, Shi D, Zou X, Wu X, Huang S, Kong L, Yang M, Xiao Y, Chen B, Chen X, Ouyang Y, Song L, Jian Y, Lin C. BAG2 drives chemoresistance of breast cancer by exacerbating mutant p53 aggregate. Theranostics 2023; 13(1):339-354. doi:10.7150/thno.78492. https://www.thno.org/v13p0339.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

Rationale: Chemoresistance is a major challenge in the clinical management of patients with breast cancer. Mutant p53 proteins tend to form aggregates that promote tumorigenesis in cancers. We here aimed to explore the mechanism for the generation of mutant p53 aggregates in breast cancer and assess its role in inducing chemoresistance.

Methods: Expression of BCL2-associated athanogene 2 (BAG2) was evaluated by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry in breast cancer patient specimens. The significance of BAG2 expression in prognosis was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Cox regression model. The roles of BAG2 in facilitating the formation of mutant p53 aggregates were analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and semi-denaturing detergent-agarose gel electrophoresis assays. The effects of BAG2 on the chemoresistance of breast cancer were demonstrated by cell function assays and mice tumor models.

Results: In the present study, we found that BAG2 was significantly upregulated in relapse breast cancer patient tissues and high BAG2 was associated with a worse prognosis. BAG2 localized in mutant p53 aggregates and interacted with misfolded p53 mutants. BAG2 exacerbated the formation of the aggregates and recruited HSP90 to promote the propagation and maintenance of the aggregates. Consequently, BAG2-mediated mutant p53 aggregation inhibited the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, leading to chemoresistance in breast cancer. Importantly, silencing of BAG2 or pharmacological targeting of HSP90 substantially reduced the aggregates and increased the sensitivity of chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Conclusion: These findings reveal a significant role of BAG2 in the chemoresistance of breast cancer via exacerbating mutant p53 aggregates and suggest that BAG2 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer patients with drug resistance.

Keywords: breast cancer, chemoresistance, BAG2, mutant p53 aggregate, HSP90


Citation styles

APA
Huang, X., Shi, D., Zou, X., Wu, X., Huang, S., Kong, L., Yang, M., Xiao, Y., Chen, B., Chen, X., Ouyang, Y., Song, L., Jian, Y., Lin, C. (2023). BAG2 drives chemoresistance of breast cancer by exacerbating mutant p53 aggregate. Theranostics, 13(1), 339-354. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.78492.

ACS
Huang, X.; Shi, D.; Zou, X.; Wu, X.; Huang, S.; Kong, L.; Yang, M.; Xiao, Y.; Chen, B.; Chen, X.; Ouyang, Y.; Song, L.; Jian, Y.; Lin, C. BAG2 drives chemoresistance of breast cancer by exacerbating mutant p53 aggregate. Theranostics 2023, 13 (1), 339-354. DOI: 10.7150/thno.78492.

NLM
Huang X, Shi D, Zou X, Wu X, Huang S, Kong L, Yang M, Xiao Y, Chen B, Chen X, Ouyang Y, Song L, Jian Y, Lin C. BAG2 drives chemoresistance of breast cancer by exacerbating mutant p53 aggregate. Theranostics 2023; 13(1):339-354. doi:10.7150/thno.78492. https://www.thno.org/v13p0339.htm

CSE
Huang X, Shi D, Zou X, Wu X, Huang S, Kong L, Yang M, Xiao Y, Chen B, Chen X, Ouyang Y, Song L, Jian Y, Lin C. 2023. BAG2 drives chemoresistance of breast cancer by exacerbating mutant p53 aggregate. Theranostics. 13(1):339-354.

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