ZO-2 blocks the localization of PGAM5 protein to the mitochondrial membrane and suppresses pancreatic cancer malignancy through metabolic reprogramming.
Yu Sen S, Ke Mingxin M, Ma Muyuan M, Jiang Tingting T et al.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death with limited treatment options, and there is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutic strategies. The zonula occludens-2 (ZO-2) protein is a member of the tight junction protein family, and its function and underlying mechanisms of action in PDAC are unknown. Gene expression and its association with the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with PDAC were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and bioinformatics and functionally validated by using in vitro and in vivo mouse models. Protein expression and protein regulation were measured by using gain- and loss-of-function assays and molecular biology methods. The expression level of ZO-2 decreased in PDAC and was highly correlated with aggressive pathological features and the prognosis of patients. Increased expression of ZO-2 inhibited the proliferation, migration and colony formation of PDAC cells in vitro and inhibited PDAC tumor growth and liver metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, ZO-2 bound to the mitochondrial membrane protein phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5) and trapped it in the cytosol. Reduced expression of ZO-2 caused increased mitochondrial localization of PGAM5, leading to activated mitochondrial function and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species and ATP levels, thereby promoting PDAC malignancy, whereas increased ZO-2 expression did the opposite. ZO-2 expression also correlated directly with immune cell infiltration and immune signaling in PDAC. Downregulation of ZO-2 caused increased localization of PGAM5 to the mitochondrial membrane and promoted PDAC malignancy through metabolic reprogramming. ZO-2 is associated with the PDAC immune microenvironment. The ZO-2-PGAM5 axis could serve as a potential therapeutic target in PDAC.