2. Academic Validation
  3. MLKL promotes hepatocarcinogenesis through inhibition of AMPK-mediated autophagy

MLKL promotes hepatocarcinogenesis through inhibition of AMPK-mediated autophagy

  • Cell Death Differ. 2024 May 23. doi: 10.1038/s41418-024-01314-5.
Xianjun Yu 1 2,  Mengyuan Feng 1 2,  Jian Guo 2,  Haoyu Wang 1 2,  Jun Yu 3,  Anjie Zhang 1 2,  Jingyi Wu 1 2,  Yamei Han 4,  Zequn Sun 1,  Yingying Liao 1,  Qun Zhao 5 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China.
  • 2 Inflammation-Cancer Transformation and Wudang Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei Talent Introduction and Innovation Demonstration Base, Biomedical Research Institute, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China.
  • 3 Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland.
  • 4 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China.
  • 5 Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China. zhaoqun@hbmu.edu.cn.
  • 6 Inflammation-Cancer Transformation and Wudang Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei Talent Introduction and Innovation Demonstration Base, Biomedical Research Institute, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China. zhaoqun@hbmu.edu.cn.
PMID: 38783090 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-024-01314-5
Abstract

The pseudokinase Mixed Lineage Kinase domain-like (MLKL) is an essential component of the activation of the necroptotic pathway. Emerging evidence suggests that MLKL plays a key role in liver disease. However, how MLKL contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Herein, we report that MLKL is upregulated in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced murine HCC model and is associated with human hepatocellular carcinomas. Hepatocyte-specific MLKL knockout suppresses the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. Conversely, MLKL overexpression aggravates the initiation and progression of DEN-induced HCC. Mechanistic study reveals that deletion of MLKL significantly increases the activation of Autophagy, thereby protecting against hepatocarcinogenesis. MLKL directly interacts with AMPKα1 and inhibits its activity independent of its necroptotic function. Mechanistically, MLKL serves as a bridging molecule between AMPKα1 and protein Phosphatase 1B (PPM1B), thus enhancing the dephosphorylation of AMPKα1. Consistently, MLKL expression correlates negatively with AMPKα1 phosphorylation in HCC patients. Taken together, our findings highlight MLKL as a novel AMPK gatekeeper that plays key roles in inhibiting Autophagy and driving hepatocarcinogenesis, suggesting that the MLKL-AMPKα1 axis is a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

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