Cited by 2,012Ferroptosis and cancer prognosisGenomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stressIron Metabolism and Disorders

Activation of the p62–Keap1–NRF2 pathway protects against ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

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Sun, Xiaofang, Ou, Zhanhui, Chen, Ruochan, Niu, Xiaohua, Chen, De, Kang, Rui, Tang, Daolin·2016·Hepatology

Abstract

Ferroptosis is a recently recognized form of regulated cell death caused by an iron‐dependent accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating ferroptosis remain obscure. Here, we report that nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (NRF2) plays a central role in protecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells against ferroptosis. Upon exposure to ferroptosis‐inducing compounds (e.g., erastin, sorafenib, and buthionine sulfoximine), p62 expression prevented NRF2 degradation and enhanced subsequent NRF2 nuclear accumulation through inactivation of Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1. Additionally, nuclear NRF2 interacted with transcriptional coactivator small v‐maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog proteins such as MafG and then activated transcription of quinone oxidoreductase‐1, heme oxygenase‐1, and ferritin heavy chain‐1. Knockdown of p62, quinone oxidoreductase‐1, heme oxygenase‐1, and ferritin heavy chain‐1 by RNA interference in HCC cells promoted ferroptosis in response to erastin and sorafenib. Furthermore, genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of NRF2 expression/activity in HCC cells increased the anticancer activity of erastin and sorafenib in vitro and in tumor xenograft models. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate novel molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of ferroptosis; the status of NRF2 is a key factor that determines the therapeutic response to ferroptosis‐targeted therapies in HCC cells. (H epatology 2016;63:173–184)

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  • Phosphorylation of p62 initiates its interaction with E3 ligase KEAP1, competing out Nrf2 and stabilizing Nrf2 signaling.

    “Phosphorylation of p62 initiates its interaction with E3 ligase KEAP1, therefore competing out alternate KEAP1 target Nrf2 and stabilizing Nrf2 signaling [102].”

    From Acetylation: a new target for protein degradation in cancer (2025) · cites this paper as [102]

    The Results section on p62–Keap1 interaction reports that p62 binds Keap1, displaces NRF2, and inhibits NRF2 degradation. The Discussion likewise says p62 prevents NRF2 degradation and enhances its nuclear accumulation. Neither passage establishes that phosphorylation of p62 initiates its interaction with Keap1; the searches for p62 phosphorylation did not find that mechanism in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Sun, X., Ou, Z., Chen, R., Niu, X., Chen, D., Kang, R., & Tang, D.
Affiliations
  • Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (CN)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Tang, Daolin
Venue
Hepatology
Published
2015-11-26
Volume
63
Issue
1
Pages
173-184
ISSN
  • 0270-9139 (ISSN-L)
  • 1527-3350
OpenAlex
W2163005196
Cited by
2,012
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 165 · 2025: 255 · 2024: 311 · 2023: 309 · 2022: 342 · 2021: 255 · 2020: 165 · 2019: 92 · 2018: 52 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
FWCI
29.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Hepatology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (201508020258, R01GM115366, 201400000003, R01CA160417, 81502445, 31171229, U1132005)
  • National Institutes of Health (R01GM115366 to D.T.)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA160417)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM115366)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
Keywords
ferroptosis, Nrf2, p62, Keap1, hepatocellular carcinoma, erastin, sorafenib, buthionine sulfoximine, quinone oxidoreductase 1, heme oxygenase-1, FTH1, MAFG, ferroptosis-targeted therapy, iron-dependent lipid peroxidation
MeSH terms
Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1, Animals, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Humans, Iron, Liver Neoplasms, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Tumor Cells, Cultured, Signal Transduction, RNA-Binding Proteins, Cell Death, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, NF-E2-Related Factor 2, Mice

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