PPDPF promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via c-Myc/CD24 axis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Despite a series of attempts during the last decades, the prognosis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains poor. Although clinical immunotherapy trials have shown encouraging results, their benefits are limited. This study aims to identify novel targets for immunotherapy in ESCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: ESCC cell lines and mouse models were used to identify the tumor-promoting function of pancreatic progenitor cell differentiation and proliferation factor (PPDPF) and evaluate the effect of blockade of CD24. RNA sequencing was performed to profile transcriptomic changes upon PPDPF deficiency. Fluorescence microscopy-based phagocytosis assay and flow cytometry were employed to analyze macrophage phagocytosis. Immunoblotting, glutathione S-transferase-pulldown assay and co-immunoprecipitation assay were conducted to investigate the mechanism underlying the tumor-promoting role of PPDPF in ESCC. Clinical samples were analyzed to further validate the findings from preclinical models. RESULTS: The expression of PPDPF was significantly upregulated in ESCC. Deficiency of PPDPF inhibited the development of ESCC in mice. Mechanistically, PPDPF interfered with the c-Myc-GSK3β interaction and enhanced the protein stability of c-Myc, which increased the expression of CD24 and therefore promoted immune escape from macrophage phagocytosis. Positive correlations between PPDPF, c-Myc, and CD24 were observed in clinical samples. Anti-CD24 monotherapy effectively inhibited the ESCC tumor growth in mice. CONCLUSIONS: PPDPF acts as an oncoprotein in ESCC by positively regulating the c-Myc/CD24 axis. These findings provide a potential effective target for immunotherapy in ESCC.
Authors: Bing Zhu, Ning Ma, Zhi-Chao Liu, Qian-Wen Zheng, Xin Liang, Yu Chen, Yi-Kang Wang, Hui-Jun Cao, Ji Xia, Sheng Xu, Xiao-Song Qiu, Jing-Yi Huang, Kai Ding, Yan-Jun Xiang, Xi-Ran Zhang, Lin Qiu, Wei Chen, Xiang Wang, Lingyun Long, Qian-Zhi Ni, Zhi-Gang Li, Fan Yao, Jing-Jing Li
Institutions: Wenzhou Medical University, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Lishui Central Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Chest Hospital, ShanghaiTech University, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Westlake University, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, School of Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,490
OpenAlex ID: W4413051609