Sequential targeting of YAP1 and p21 enhances the elimination of senescent cells induced by the BET inhibitor JQ1

Cell Death Dis. 2021 Jan 25;12(1):121. doi: 10.1038/s41419-021-03416-1.

Abstract

Chondrosarcoma (CHS) is the second most common bone malignancy with limited therapeutic approaches. Our previous study has found that Yes associated protein 1 (YAP1) is downregulated in CHS cells treated with bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitor JQ1. However, the precise role of YAP1 in CHS is largely unknown. Herein, we found that YAP1 expression was upregulated in CHS tissues, and positively correlated with its grading score. Loss of YAP1 inhibited CHS proliferation and induced cellular senescence, while expression of YAP1 mutants revealed YAP1/TEA domain family member (TEAD)-dependent negative regulation of p21 and subsequent cellular senescence. These results were validated by in vivo experiments using stable shYAP1 cell lines. Mechanistically, negative regulation of p21 by YAP1 occurred post-transcriptionally via Dicer-regulated miRNA networks, specifically, the miR-17 family. Furthermore, we demonstrated that sequential targeting of YAP1 and p21 enhanced the elimination of JQ1-induced senescent cells in a Bcl-2-like 1 (Bcl-XL)/Caspase-3 dependent manner. Altogether, we unveil a novel role of YAP1 signaling in mediating CHS cell senescence and propose a one-two punch approach that sequentially targets the YAP1/p21 axis to eliminate senescent cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Azepines / pharmacology*
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cellular Senescence / drug effects
  • Chondrosarcoma / drug therapy*
  • Chondrosarcoma / genetics
  • Chondrosarcoma / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Triazoles / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • (+)-JQ1 compound
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Azepines
  • CDKN1A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Triazoles
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human
  • bromodomain and extra-terminal domain protein, human
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins