Min Chen

•Decreased COMMD10 induces radioresistance through intracellular Cu accumulation in HCC.•COMMD10 inhibits HIF1α/CP positive feedback loop to enhance radiosensitivity by disrupting Cu-Fe balance.•Cu accumulation upregulates CP to reduce Fe concentration and inhibit lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis.•COMMD10, HIF1α, CP and SLC7A11 might be potential new targets and predictive biomarkers of radioresistant HCC. Background & AimsCopper (Cu) is an essential trace element whose serum levels have been reported to act as an effective indicator of the efficacy of radiotherapy. However, little is known about the role of Cu in radiotherapy. In this study we aimed to determine this role and investigate the precise mechanism by which Cu or Cu-related proteins regulate the radiosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsThe expression and function of Cu and copper metabolism MURR1 domain 10 (COMMD10) were assessed via a Cu detection assay, immunostaining, real-time PCR, western blot, a radiation clonogenic assay and a 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay. Ferroptosis was determined by detecting glutathione, lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde and ferrous ion (Fe) levels. The in vivo effects of Cu and COMMD10 were examined with Cu/Cu chelator treatment or lentivirus modification of COMMD10 expression in radiated mouse models.ResultsWe identified a novel role of Cu in promoting the radioresistance of HCC cells. Ionizing radiation (IR) induced a reduction of COMMD10, which increased intracellular Cu and led to radioresistance of HCC. COMMD10 enhanced ferroptosis and radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, low expression of COMMD10 induced by IR inhibited the ubiquitin degradation of HIF1α (by inducing Cu accumulation) and simultaneously impaired its combination with HIF1α, promoting HIF1α nuclear translocation and the transcription of ceruloplasmin (CP) and SLC7A11, which jointly inhibited ferroptosis in HCC cells. In addition, elevated CP promoted HIF1α expression by reducing Fe, forming a positive feedback loop.ConclusionsCOMMD10 inhibits the HIF1α/CP loop to enhance ferroptosis and radiosensitivity by disrupting Cu-Fe homeostasis in HCC. This work provides new targets and treatment strategies for overcoming radioresistance in HCC.Lay summaryRadiotherapy benefits patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its effectiveness is hampered by radioresistance. Herein, we uncovered a novel role for copper in promoting the radioresistance of HCCs. This work has revealed new targets and potential treatment strategies that could be used to sensitize HCC to radiotherapy. Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element whose serum levels have been reported to act as an effective indicator of the efficacy of radiotherapy. However, little is known about the role of Cu in radiotherapy. In this study we aimed to determine this role and investigate the precise mechanism by which Cu or Cu-related proteins regulate the radiosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression and function of Cu and copper metabolism MURR1 domain 10 (COMMD10) were assessed via a Cu detection assay, immunostaining, real-time PCR, western blot, a radiation clonogenic assay and a 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay. Ferroptosis was determined by detecting glutathione, lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde and ferrous ion (Fe) levels. The in vivo effects of Cu and COMMD10 were examined with Cu/Cu chelator treatment or lentivirus modification of COMMD10 expression in radiated mouse models. We identified a novel role of Cu in promoting the radioresistance of HCC cells. Ionizing radiation (IR) induced a reduction of COMMD10, which increased intracellular Cu and led to radioresistance of HCC. COMMD10 enhanced ferroptosis and radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, low expression of COMMD10 induced by IR inhibited the ubiquitin degradation of HIF1α (by inducing Cu accumulation) and simultaneously impaired its combination with HIF1α, promoting HIF1α nuclear translocation and the transcription of ceruloplasmin (CP) and SLC7A11, which jointly inhibited ferroptosis in HCC cells. In addition, elevated CP promoted HIF1α expression by reducing Fe, forming a positive feedback loop. COMMD10 inhibits the HIF1α/CP loop to enhance ferroptosis and radiosensitivity by disrupting Cu-Fe homeostasis in HCC. This work provides new targets and treatment strategies for overcoming radioresistance in HCC.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous study revealed that complement activation products of the alternative pathway could be detected in renal specimens of human ANCA-associated vasculitis. The current study aimed to investigate the clinical and pathologic significance of complement activation products in the urine and kidneys of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Renal biopsy specimens from 29 patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis diagnosed at Peking University First Hospital from January of 2008 to December of 2010 were randomly collected. Urine samples from 27 of 29 patients in active stage and 22 ANCA-associated vasculitis patients in complete remission who were independent of the above-mentioned 29 patients were collected. Urine samples from 28 patients with lupus nephritis and 25 healthy individuals were also collected. The renal deposition of Bb, C3d, and C5b-9 were detected by immunohistochemistry. The urinary levels of Bb, C3a, C5a, and soluble C5b-9 were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: The deposition, measured by the mean optical density of Bb, which is an alternative complement pathway marker, in glomeruli correlated with the proportion of total crescents (r=0.50, P=0.006), the extent of interstitial infiltrate (r=0.59, P=0.001), interstitial fibrosis (r=0.45, P=0.01), and tubular atrophy (r=0.55, P=0.002), whereas it correlated inversely with the proportion of normal glomeruli (r=-0.49, P=0.008). The urinary levels of Bb, C3a, C5a, and soluble C5b-9 were all significantly higher in active compared with remission stage. The urinary levels of Bb in patients with active ANCA-associated vasculitis correlated with the serum creatinine (r=0.56, P=0.002) and correlated inversely with the proportion of normal glomeruli in renal specimens (r=-0.49, P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides additional evidence that complement activation through the alternative pathway occurred in the development of ANCA-associated vasculitis. The renal deposition of Bb and urinary Bb levels were associated with the severity of renal injury.

Prior studies suggest increased cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after haploidentical donor transplantation with posttransplant cyclophosphamide (HaploCy). The role of allograft source and posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) in CMV infection is unclear. We analyzed the effect of graft source and PTCy on incidence of CMV infection, and effects of serostatus and CMV infection on transplant outcomes. We examined patients reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research between 2012 and 2017 who had received HaploCy (n = 757), matched related (Sib) with PTCy (SibCy, n = 403), or Sib with calcineurin inhibitor-based prophylaxis (SibCNI, n = 1605). Cumulative incidences of CMV infection by day 180 were 42%, 37%, and 23%, respectively (P < .001). CMV disease was statistically comparable. CMV infection risk was highest for CMV-seropositive recipients (R+), but significantly higher in PTCy recipients regardless of donor (HaploCy [n = 545]: hazard ratio [HR], 50.3; SibCy [n = 279]: HR, 47.7; SibCNI [n = 1065]: HR, 24.4; P < .001). D+/R- patients also had increased risk for CMV infection. Among R+ or those developing CMV infection, HaploCy had worse overall survival and nonrelapse mortality. Relapse was unaffected by CMV infection or serostatus. PTCy was associated with lower chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) overall, but CMV infection in PTCy recipients was associated with higher chronic GVHD (P = .006). PTCy, regardless of donor, is associated with higher incidence of CMV infection, augmenting the risk of seropositivity. Additionally, CMV infection may negate the chronic GVHD protection of PTCy. This study supports aggressive prevention strategies in all receiving PTCy.