USP28 promotes tumor progression and glycolysis by stabilizing PKM2/Hif1-α in cholangiocarcinoma

Ubiquitination is one of the important modification of proteins which can be reversed by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Ubiquitin specific protease 28 (USP28) belongs to the deubiquitinase family, which plays a cancer-promoting function in many types of cancers such as pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. So far, the molecular function and significance of USP 28 in cholangiocarcinoma remain unclear.

In this study, we evaluated the expression of USP28 using tissue microarray (TMA), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and online databases. We investigated the effect of USP28 on the progression of CCA through in vitro and in vivo functional experiments. In addition, we explored downstream molecular pathways using Western blotting (WB), immunofluorescence (IF), and mass spectrometry techniques.

Here, we found that cholangiocarcinoma tissue had higher USP 28 expression than normal bile duct tissue, and that high USP 28 levels were significantly associated with a malignant phenotype and poorer prognosis in cholangiocarcinoma patients. Both in vitro and in vivo, USP28 could mediate the deubiquitination of PKM2, thereby activating the downstream Hif1-α signaling pathway, promoting glycolysis and energy supply, and finally promoting tumor progression.

In summary, USP28 activated downstream Hif1-α by reducing the ubiquitination level of PKM2, furthermore, promoting the level of glycolysis in CCA cells for tumor progression.