The role of HSPB1 in modulating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer via the TP53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis

Abstract Purpose This study investigates the role of HSPB1 in pancreatic cancer, particularly its impact on cell proliferation and migration through ferroptosis regulation and interaction with TP53 Materials and Methods HSPB1 expression was analyzed using BioGPS and GEPIA databases. BxPC-3 cell line...

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Main Authors: Zeyu Tian, Qi Liu, Jihui Luo, Ning Ning, Jing Qu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Discover Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02803-w
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author Zeyu Tian
Qi Liu
Jihui Luo
Ning Ning
Jing Qu
author_facet Zeyu Tian
Qi Liu
Jihui Luo
Ning Ning
Jing Qu
author_sort Zeyu Tian
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose This study investigates the role of HSPB1 in pancreatic cancer, particularly its impact on cell proliferation and migration through ferroptosis regulation and interaction with TP53 Materials and Methods HSPB1 expression was analyzed using BioGPS and GEPIA databases. BxPC-3 cell lines with stable HSPB1 overexpression and knockdown were created via plasmid transfection and siRNA. The study examined HSPB1's effect on TP53 protein levels and its role in ferroptosis using TP53 agonists and inhibitors. Results HSPB1 mRNA levels were significantly elevated in pancreatic cancer tissues, and both mRNA and protein levels were notably upregulated in cancer cell lines. HSPB1 overexpression promoted BxPC-3 cell proliferation and migration, while silencing HSPB1 reduced these effects. High HSPB11 expression increased the levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4, while HSPB1 knockdown inhibited their expression. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that HSPB1 overexpression alleviated erastin-induced cellular damage. Although HSPB1 did not significantly affect TP53 mRNA levels, it reduced the degradation of TP53 protein, thereby enhancing the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 and reducing ferroptosis. The TP53 agonist significantly attenuated the effects of HSPB1 overexpression on SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression and partially restored TP53 expression. The TP53 inhibitor reversed the decrease in SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression caused by HSPB1 silencing and reduced the elevated levels of ROS and free iron. Moreover, HSPB1 overexpression reduced lipid ROS production. Conclusion HSPB1 promotes pancreatic cancer progression by suppressing TP53 signaling and increasing SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression, attenuating ferroptosis. These insights suggest HSPB1 as a potential therapeutic target, warranting further development of specific inhibitors. Graphical abstract The figure illustrates the mechanism by which HSPB1 promotes pancreatic cancer progression by inhibiting ferroptosis. HSPB1 regulates the TP53 signaling pathway, resulting in downstream effects on key ferroptotic regulators. Specifically, HSPB1 suppresses TP53, which in turn modulates the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4. These changes in the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 inhibit ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death. The inhibition of ferroptosis ultimately promotes the survival and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells, contributing to tumor progression.
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spelling doaj-art-54d6eb6d5fe64bb89dfb9a34c9d0b3852025-08-20T02:06:36ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-06-0116111510.1007/s12672-025-02803-wThe role of HSPB1 in modulating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer via the TP53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axisZeyu Tian0Qi Liu1Jihui Luo2Ning Ning3Jing Qu4Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital)Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital)Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital)Medical Equipment Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital)Prevention and Treatment Center, Hunan Province Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine)Abstract Purpose This study investigates the role of HSPB1 in pancreatic cancer, particularly its impact on cell proliferation and migration through ferroptosis regulation and interaction with TP53 Materials and Methods HSPB1 expression was analyzed using BioGPS and GEPIA databases. BxPC-3 cell lines with stable HSPB1 overexpression and knockdown were created via plasmid transfection and siRNA. The study examined HSPB1's effect on TP53 protein levels and its role in ferroptosis using TP53 agonists and inhibitors. Results HSPB1 mRNA levels were significantly elevated in pancreatic cancer tissues, and both mRNA and protein levels were notably upregulated in cancer cell lines. HSPB1 overexpression promoted BxPC-3 cell proliferation and migration, while silencing HSPB1 reduced these effects. High HSPB11 expression increased the levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4, while HSPB1 knockdown inhibited their expression. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that HSPB1 overexpression alleviated erastin-induced cellular damage. Although HSPB1 did not significantly affect TP53 mRNA levels, it reduced the degradation of TP53 protein, thereby enhancing the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 and reducing ferroptosis. The TP53 agonist significantly attenuated the effects of HSPB1 overexpression on SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression and partially restored TP53 expression. The TP53 inhibitor reversed the decrease in SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression caused by HSPB1 silencing and reduced the elevated levels of ROS and free iron. Moreover, HSPB1 overexpression reduced lipid ROS production. Conclusion HSPB1 promotes pancreatic cancer progression by suppressing TP53 signaling and increasing SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression, attenuating ferroptosis. These insights suggest HSPB1 as a potential therapeutic target, warranting further development of specific inhibitors. Graphical abstract The figure illustrates the mechanism by which HSPB1 promotes pancreatic cancer progression by inhibiting ferroptosis. HSPB1 regulates the TP53 signaling pathway, resulting in downstream effects on key ferroptotic regulators. Specifically, HSPB1 suppresses TP53, which in turn modulates the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4. These changes in the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 inhibit ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death. The inhibition of ferroptosis ultimately promotes the survival and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells, contributing to tumor progression.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02803-wHSPB1FerroptosisPancreatic cancerTP53SLC7A11GPX4
spellingShingle Zeyu Tian
Qi Liu
Jihui Luo
Ning Ning
Jing Qu
The role of HSPB1 in modulating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer via the TP53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis
Discover Oncology
HSPB1
Ferroptosis
Pancreatic cancer
TP53
SLC7A11
GPX4
title The role of HSPB1 in modulating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer via the TP53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis
title_full The role of HSPB1 in modulating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer via the TP53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis
title_fullStr The role of HSPB1 in modulating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer via the TP53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis
title_full_unstemmed The role of HSPB1 in modulating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer via the TP53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis
title_short The role of HSPB1 in modulating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer via the TP53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis
title_sort role of hspb1 in modulating ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer via the tp53 slc7a11 gpx4 axis
topic HSPB1
Ferroptosis
Pancreatic cancer
TP53
SLC7A11
GPX4
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02803-w
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