First Author | Liu J | Year | 2021 |
Journal | Nat Commun | Volume | 12 |
Issue | 1 | Pages | 647 |
PubMed ID | 33510144 | Mgi Jnum | J:300985 |
Mgi Id | MGI:6504824 | Doi | 10.1038/s41467-021-20904-2 |
Citation | Liu J, et al. (2021) NUPR1 is a critical repressor of ferroptosis. Nat Commun 12(1):647 |
abstractText | Ferroptosis is a type of iron-dependent regulated cell death, representing an emerging disease-modulatory mechanism. Transcription factors play multiple roles in ferroptosis, although the key regulator for ferroptosis in iron metabolism remains elusive. Using NanoString technology, we identify NUPR1, a stress-inducible transcription factor, as a driver of ferroptosis resistance. Mechanistically, NUPR1-mediated LCN2 expression blocks ferroptotic cell death through diminishing iron accumulation and subsequent oxidative damage. Consequently, LCN2 depletion mimics NUPR1 deficiency with respect to ferroptosis induction, whereas transfection-enforced re-expression of LCN2 restores resistance to ferroptosis in NUPR1-deficient cells. Pharmacological or genetic blockade of the NUPR1-LCN2 pathway (using NUPR1 shRNA, LCN2 shRNA, pancreas-specific Lcn2 conditional knockout mice, or the small molecule ZZW-115) increases the activity of the ferroptosis inducer erastin and worsens pancreatitis, in suitable mouse models. These findings suggest a link between NUPR1-regulated iron metabolism and ferroptosis susceptibility. |