Tumor suppressive role of the antimicrobial lectin REG3A targeting the O-GlcNAc glycosylation pathway

Abstract

Background and Aims: Antimicrobial proteins of the regenerating family member 3 alpha (REG3A) family provide a first line of protection against infections and transformed cells. Their expression is inducible by inflammation, which makes their role in cancer biology less clear since an immune-inflammatory context may preexist or coexist with cancer, as occurs in HCC. The aim of this study is to clarify the role of REG3A in liver carcinogenesis and to determine whether its carbohydrate-binding functions are involved. Approach and Results: This study provides evidence for a suppressive role of REG3A in HCC by reducing O-GlcNAcylation in 2 mouse models of HCC, in vitro cell studies, and clinical samples. REG3A expression in hepatocytes significantly reduced global O-GlcNAcylation and O-GlcNAcylation of c-MYC in preneoplastic and tumor livers and markedly inhibited HCC development in REG3A-c-MYC double transgenic mice and mice exposed to diethylnitrosamine. REG3A modified O-GlcNAcylation without altering the expression or activity of O-linked N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, O-linked N-acetylglucosaminyl hydrolase, or glutamine fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase. Reduced O-GlcNAcylation was consistent with decreased levels of UDP-GlcNAc in precancerous and cancerous livers. This effect was linked to the ability of REG3A to bind glucose and glucose-6 phosphate, suggested by a REG3A mutant unable to bind glucose and glucose-6 phosphate and alter O-GlcNAcylation. Importantly, patients with cirrhosis with high hepatic REG3A expression had lower levels of O-GlcNAcylation and longer cancer-free survival than REG3A-negative cirrhotic livers. Conclusions: REG3A helps fight liver cancer by reducing O-GlcNAcylation. This study suggests a new paradigm for the regulation of O-GlcNAc signaling in cancer-related pathways through interactions with the carbohydrate-binding function of REG3A.