NeuroD1-GPX4 signaling leads to ferroptosis resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Cell death resistance is a hallmark of tumor cells that drives tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Targeting cell death resistance-related genes to sensitize tumor cells and decrease their cell death threshold has attracted attention as a potential antitumor therapeutic strategy. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Recent studies have reported that NeuroD1, first discovered as a neurodifferentiation factor, is upregulated in various tumor cells and plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. However, its involvement in tumor cell death resistance remains unknown. Here, we found that NeuroD1 was highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and was associated with tumor cell death resistance. We revealed that NeuroD1 enhanced HCC cell resistance to ferroptosis, a type of cell death caused by aberrant redox homeostasis that induces lipid peroxide accumulation, leading to increased HCC cell viability. NeuroD1 binds to the promoter of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), a key reductant that suppresses ferroptosis by reducing lipid peroxide, and activates its transcriptional activity, resulting in decreased lipid peroxide and ferroptosis. Subsequently, we showed that NeuroD1/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis resistance was crucial for HCC cell tumorigenic potential. These findings not only identify NeuroD1 as a regulator of tumor cell ferroptosis resistance but also reveal a novel molecular mechanism underlying the oncogenic function of NeuroD1. Furthermore, our findings suggest the potential of targeting NeuroD1 in antitumor therapy.