IRF2BPL transcriptionally regulates IGFBP2 to promote tumor progression and suppresses immune cell infiltration in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
摘要
Numerous ubiquitination-related proteases (URPs) have been identified as facilitators of disease progression through the disruption of ubiquitination homeostasis in substrate proteins. Notably, some URPs have exhibited non-classical biological functions. In this study, we experimentally elucidate the role of the E3 ubiquitin ligase IRF2BPL as transcriptional activator that promotes malignant phenotypes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and inhibits the infiltration of various immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, we found that IRF2BPL is highly expressed in ESCC cells and promotes IGFBP2 transcription, thereby facilitating ESCC development both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the chemical drug ONC201 was shown to effectively impede ESCC progression induced by the hyperactive IRF2BPL-IGFBP2 axis in tumor cells. Collectively, our findings verified that the IRF2BPL-IGFBP2 axis plays a critical role in enhancing ESCC progression by increasing the malignancy of ESCC cells and fostering an immune-deficient tumor microenvironment. Targeting the IRF2BPL-IGFBP2 axis may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for ESCC.