The Molecular Chaperone TCP1 Affects Carcinogenicity and Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy marked by high relapse rates and molecular heterogeneity, necessitating the identification of novel therapeutic targets. T-complex protein 1 (TCP1), a chaperonin implicated in protein folding, remains...

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Main Authors: Yong Wu, Guihui Tu, Yuxia Yuan, Jingwen Liu, Qingna Jiang, Yang Liu, Qiurong Wu, Lixian Wu, Yuanzhong Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/5/557
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author Yong Wu
Guihui Tu
Yuxia Yuan
Jingwen Liu
Qingna Jiang
Yang Liu
Qiurong Wu
Lixian Wu
Yuanzhong Chen
author_facet Yong Wu
Guihui Tu
Yuxia Yuan
Jingwen Liu
Qingna Jiang
Yang Liu
Qiurong Wu
Lixian Wu
Yuanzhong Chen
author_sort Yong Wu
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy marked by high relapse rates and molecular heterogeneity, necessitating the identification of novel therapeutic targets. T-complex protein 1 (TCP1), a chaperonin implicated in protein folding, remains underexplored in AML pathogenesis. This study investigates the functional role of TCP1 in AML progression and evaluates its therapeutic potential. <b>Methods:</b> Using successive generations of xenografted tumor models, we systematically assessed the correlation between TCP1 expression and AML tumorigenicity. Functional consequences of TCP1 silence were evaluated through in vitro proliferation assays and in vivo tumor growth monitoring. Two distinct inhibitory strategies were employed: miR-340-5p-mediated transcriptional silencing and FTY720-induced disruption of TCP1 chaperone activity. Mechanistic insights were derived from ubiquitin–proteasome pathway analysis, cell cycle profiling, and apoptosis assays. <b>Results:</b> High TCP1 expression correlated strongly with enhanced AML tumorigenicity. Knockdown of TCP1 significantly inhibited AML cell growth and induced degradation of AML1-ETO and PLK1 proteins through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. miR-340-5p effectively silenced TCP1 expression, exhibiting an inverse correlation with TCP1 levels. FTY720 disrupted TCP1′s chaperone function, leading to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and reduced xenograft tumor growth in murine models. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our findings establish TCP1 as a promising therapeutic target for AML. Both miR-340-5p and FTY720 demonstrate potent anti-leukemic effects by suppressing TCP1 activity, highlighting their potential as novel strategies to inhibit AML proliferation and improve therapeutic outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-5e8db39291384e97859c2899b2a67fe02025-08-20T03:14:35ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-04-0117555710.3390/pharmaceutics17050557The Molecular Chaperone TCP1 Affects Carcinogenicity and Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Acute Myeloid LeukemiaYong Wu0Guihui Tu1Yuxia Yuan2Jingwen Liu3Qingna Jiang4Yang Liu5Qiurong Wu6Lixian Wu7Yuanzhong Chen8Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University (FMU), Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350122, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University (FMU), Fuzhou 350122, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University (FMU), Fuzhou 350122, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University (FMU), Fuzhou 350122, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University (FMU), Fuzhou 350122, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University (FMU), Fuzhou 350122, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University (FMU), Fuzhou 350122, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University (FMU), Fuzhou 350122, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University (FMU), Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350122, China<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy marked by high relapse rates and molecular heterogeneity, necessitating the identification of novel therapeutic targets. T-complex protein 1 (TCP1), a chaperonin implicated in protein folding, remains underexplored in AML pathogenesis. This study investigates the functional role of TCP1 in AML progression and evaluates its therapeutic potential. <b>Methods:</b> Using successive generations of xenografted tumor models, we systematically assessed the correlation between TCP1 expression and AML tumorigenicity. Functional consequences of TCP1 silence were evaluated through in vitro proliferation assays and in vivo tumor growth monitoring. Two distinct inhibitory strategies were employed: miR-340-5p-mediated transcriptional silencing and FTY720-induced disruption of TCP1 chaperone activity. Mechanistic insights were derived from ubiquitin–proteasome pathway analysis, cell cycle profiling, and apoptosis assays. <b>Results:</b> High TCP1 expression correlated strongly with enhanced AML tumorigenicity. Knockdown of TCP1 significantly inhibited AML cell growth and induced degradation of AML1-ETO and PLK1 proteins through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. miR-340-5p effectively silenced TCP1 expression, exhibiting an inverse correlation with TCP1 levels. FTY720 disrupted TCP1′s chaperone function, leading to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and reduced xenograft tumor growth in murine models. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our findings establish TCP1 as a promising therapeutic target for AML. Both miR-340-5p and FTY720 demonstrate potent anti-leukemic effects by suppressing TCP1 activity, highlighting their potential as novel strategies to inhibit AML proliferation and improve therapeutic outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/5/557acute myeloid leukemiaTCP1miR-340-5pFTY720cell cycle arrestchaperone function
spellingShingle Yong Wu
Guihui Tu
Yuxia Yuan
Jingwen Liu
Qingna Jiang
Yang Liu
Qiurong Wu
Lixian Wu
Yuanzhong Chen
The Molecular Chaperone TCP1 Affects Carcinogenicity and Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Pharmaceutics
acute myeloid leukemia
TCP1
miR-340-5p
FTY720
cell cycle arrest
chaperone function
title The Molecular Chaperone TCP1 Affects Carcinogenicity and Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
title_full The Molecular Chaperone TCP1 Affects Carcinogenicity and Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
title_fullStr The Molecular Chaperone TCP1 Affects Carcinogenicity and Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
title_full_unstemmed The Molecular Chaperone TCP1 Affects Carcinogenicity and Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
title_short The Molecular Chaperone TCP1 Affects Carcinogenicity and Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
title_sort molecular chaperone tcp1 affects carcinogenicity and is a potential therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukemia
topic acute myeloid leukemia
TCP1
miR-340-5p
FTY720
cell cycle arrest
chaperone function
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/5/557
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