Deubiquitinase USP35 modulates ferroptosis in lung cancer via targeting ferroportin

Background: Ferroptosis is essential to regulate tumor growth and serves as a promising therapeutic target to lung cancer. Ubiquitin-specific protease 35 (USP35) belongs to the deubiquitinases family that is associated with cell proliferation and mitosis. In this research, we aim to elucidate the potential role and molecular basis of USP35 in lung cancer.

Methods: Lung cancer cells were infected with lentiviral vectors to silence or overexpress USP35. Cell viability, colony formation, lipid reactive oxygen species production, intracellular iron metabolism, and other ferroptotic markers were detected. The role of USP35 on ferroptosis and tumor progression were also tested in mouse tumor xenograft models in vivo.

Results: USP35 was abundant in human lung cancer tissues and cell lines. USP35 knockdown promoted ferroptosis, and inhibited cell growth, colony formation, and tumor progression in lung cancer cells. USP35 overexpression did not affect tumorigenesis and ferroptosis under basal conditions, but reduced erastin/RSL3-triggered iron disturbance and ferroptosis, thereby facilitating lung cancer cell growth and tumor progression. Further studies determined that USP35 directly interacted with ferroportin (FPN) and functioned as a deubiquitinase to maintain its protein stability. More importantly, we observed that USP35 knockdown sensitized lung cancer cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy.

Conclusion: USP35 modulates ferroptosis in lung cancer via targeting FPN, and it is a promising therapeutic target to lung cancer.