2. Academic Validation
  3. Cellular senescence-associated gene IFI16 promotes HMOX1-dependent evasion of ferroptosis and radioresistance in glioblastoma

Cellular senescence-associated gene IFI16 promotes HMOX1-dependent evasion of ferroptosis and radioresistance in glioblastoma

  • Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 31;16(1):1212. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56456-y.
Yuchuan Zhou # 1,  Liang Zeng # 1,  Linbo Cai # 2,  Wang Zheng 1,  Xinglong Liu 1,  Yuqi Xiao 1,  Xiaoya Jin 1,  Yang Bai 1,  Mingyao Lai 2,  Hainan Li 2,  Hua Jiang 3,  Songling Hu 4,  Yan Pan 5,  Jianghong Zhang 6,  Chunlin Shao 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  • 2 Department of Neuro-Oncology, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
  • 3 School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China.
  • 4 Department of Preventive Dentistry, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  • 5 Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. swallowpan@fudan.edu.cn.
  • 6 Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. zjh551268@fudan.edu.cn.
  • 7 Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. clshao@shmu.edu.cn.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 39890789 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56456-y
Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains a therapeutic challenge due to its aggressive nature and recurrence. This study establishes a radioresistant GBM cell model through repeated irradiation and observes a cellular senescence-like phenotype in these cells. Comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic analyses identify IFI16 as a central regulator of this phenotype and contributes to radioresistance. IFI16 activates HMOX1 transcription thereby attenuating Ferroptosis by reducing lipid peroxidation, ROS production, and intracellular Fe2+ content following irradiation. Furthermore, IFI16 interacts with the transcription factors JUND and SP1 through its pyrin domain, robustly facilitating HMOX1 expression, further inhibiting Ferroptosis and enhancing radioresistance in GBM. Notably, glyburide, a sulfonylurea compound, effectively disrupts IFI16 function and enhances Ferroptosis and radiosensitivity. By targeting the pyrin domain of IFI16, glyburide emerges as a potential therapeutic agent against GBM radioresistance. These findings underscore the central role of IFI16 in GBM radioresistance and offer promising avenues to improve GBM treatment.

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