Drp1-dependent remodeling of mitochondrial morphology triggered by EBV-LMP1 increases cisplatin resistance

Longlong Xie, Feng Shi, Yueshuo Li, We Li, Xinfang Yu, Lin Zhao, Min Zhou, Jianmin Hu, Xiangjian Luo, Min Tang, Jia Fan, Jian Zhou, Qiang Gao, Weizhong Wu, Xin Zhang, Weihua Liao, Ann M. Bode, Ya Cao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is a major Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-encoded oncoprotein involved in latency infection that regulates mitochondrial functions to facilitate cell survival. Recently, mitochondrial fission has been demonstrated as a crucial mechanism in oncovirus-mediated carcinogenesis. Mitochondrial dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)-mediated mitochondrial fission has an impact on the chemoresistance of cancers. However, the mechanism by which oncogenic stress promotes mitochondrial fission, potentially contributing to tumorigenesis, is not entirely understood. The role of Drp1 in the oncogenesis and prognosis of EBV-LMP1-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was determined in our study. We show that EBV-LMP1 exhibits a new function in remodeling mitochondrial morphology by activating Drp1. A high level of p-Drp1 (Ser616) or a low level of p-Drp1 (Ser637) correlates with poor overall survival and disease-free survival. Furthermore, the protein level of p-Drp1 (Ser616) is related to the clinical stage (TNM stage) of NPC. Targeting Drp1 impairs mitochondrial function and induces cell death in LMP1-positive NPC cells. In addition, EBV-LMP1 regulates Drp1 through two oncogenic signaling axes, AMPK and cyclin B1/Cdk1, which promote cell survival and cisplatin resistance in NPC. Our findings provide novel insight into the role of EBV-LMP1-driven mitochondrial fission in regulating Drp1 phosphorylation at serine 616 and serine 637. Disruption of Drp1 could be a promising therapeutic strategy for LMP1-positive NPC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number56
JournalSignal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 20 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81430064, 81602402, and 81874172) and the College Students’ Innovation Project of Central South University (2018zzts230).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).

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