IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis-Induced FBXO4 Modulates Muscle Cell Differentiation via β-Catenin Degradation in Dermatomyositis

Liguo Yin,1,2 Hanbo Yang,3 Min Fu,1,2 Yanyan Bai,1,2 Naiwen Hu,1,2 Hongsheng Sun1,2 1Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shandong Provin...

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Main Authors: Yin L, Yang H, Fu M, Bai Y, Hu N, Sun H
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Inflammation Research
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/ifnjakstat1-axis-induced-fbxo4-modulates-muscle-cell-differentiation-v-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIR
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author Yin L
Yang H
Fu M
Bai Y
Hu N
Sun H
author_facet Yin L
Yang H
Fu M
Bai Y
Hu N
Sun H
author_sort Yin L
collection DOAJ
description Liguo Yin,1,2 Hanbo Yang,3 Min Fu,1,2 Yanyan Bai,1,2 Naiwen Hu,1,2 Hongsheng Sun1,2 1Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Rheumatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hongsheng Sun, Email 13869192509@126.comPurpose: Dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by chronic muscle inflammation and damage. Although the pathogenesis of DM has been widely reported to be related to chronic inflammation, the role of ubiquitin E3 ligases in DM remains unclear. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the biological roles of ubiquitin E3 ligase in DM.Methods: Deseq2 was used to screen the differential express genes in DM public datasets. Quantitative real time PCR and Western blot were used to examine the mRNA and protein levels. Co-immunoprecipitation assays were used to investigate the protein interactions between proteins. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were applied to investigate the regulation between transcription factors and targets.Results: In the current study, we screened public DM-related datasets and focused on ubiquitin-proteasome-related enzymes. Ultimately, we identified the ubiquitin E3 ligase FBXO4. FBXO4 was significantly upregulated in DM muscle tissues compared to normal controls. In human muscle cells (LHCN-M2), FBXO4 knockout led to significant upregulation of genes related to muscle cell differentiation and significant downregulation of genes enriched in cell cycle pathways, as revealed by RNA-seq. These results suggest that FBXO4 knockout promotes muscle cell differentiation. Mechanistic studies showed that FBXO4 ubiquitinates and degrades β-catenin, thereby inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and suppressing muscle cell differentiation. On the other hand, FBXO4 may promote muscle cell apoptosis in DM by degrading MCL1. Additionally, we found that FBXO4 is regulated by the IFNα/JAK/STAT1 signaling pathway in DM and identified FBXO4 as a direct target of STAT1.Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings suggest that IFNα/JAK/STAT1 signaling pathway elevates the expression of FBXO4 in DM and then it contributes to muscle atrophy by inhibiting differentiation and promoting apoptosis. Targeting FBXO4 may offer a novel therapeutic approach for DM. Keywords: dermatomyositis, IFNα/JAK/STAT1 axis, FBXO4, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, muscle cell differentiation
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spelling doaj-art-76274eea76d445ebb3f5b6f22a89cb932025-08-20T03:15:54ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Inflammation Research1178-70312025-06-01Volume 18Issue 185278539104289IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis-Induced FBXO4 Modulates Muscle Cell Differentiation via β-Catenin Degradation in DermatomyositisYin L0Yang H1Fu M2Bai Y3Hu N4Sun H5Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyDepartment of RheumatologyDepartment of Rheumatology and ImmunologyDepartment of Rheumatology and ImmunologyDepartment of Rheumatology and ImmunologyDepartment of Rheumatology and ImmunologyLiguo Yin,1,2 Hanbo Yang,3 Min Fu,1,2 Yanyan Bai,1,2 Naiwen Hu,1,2 Hongsheng Sun1,2 1Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Rheumatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hongsheng Sun, Email 13869192509@126.comPurpose: Dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by chronic muscle inflammation and damage. Although the pathogenesis of DM has been widely reported to be related to chronic inflammation, the role of ubiquitin E3 ligases in DM remains unclear. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the biological roles of ubiquitin E3 ligase in DM.Methods: Deseq2 was used to screen the differential express genes in DM public datasets. Quantitative real time PCR and Western blot were used to examine the mRNA and protein levels. Co-immunoprecipitation assays were used to investigate the protein interactions between proteins. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were applied to investigate the regulation between transcription factors and targets.Results: In the current study, we screened public DM-related datasets and focused on ubiquitin-proteasome-related enzymes. Ultimately, we identified the ubiquitin E3 ligase FBXO4. FBXO4 was significantly upregulated in DM muscle tissues compared to normal controls. In human muscle cells (LHCN-M2), FBXO4 knockout led to significant upregulation of genes related to muscle cell differentiation and significant downregulation of genes enriched in cell cycle pathways, as revealed by RNA-seq. These results suggest that FBXO4 knockout promotes muscle cell differentiation. Mechanistic studies showed that FBXO4 ubiquitinates and degrades β-catenin, thereby inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and suppressing muscle cell differentiation. On the other hand, FBXO4 may promote muscle cell apoptosis in DM by degrading MCL1. Additionally, we found that FBXO4 is regulated by the IFNα/JAK/STAT1 signaling pathway in DM and identified FBXO4 as a direct target of STAT1.Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings suggest that IFNα/JAK/STAT1 signaling pathway elevates the expression of FBXO4 in DM and then it contributes to muscle atrophy by inhibiting differentiation and promoting apoptosis. Targeting FBXO4 may offer a novel therapeutic approach for DM. Keywords: dermatomyositis, IFNα/JAK/STAT1 axis, FBXO4, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, muscle cell differentiationhttps://www.dovepress.com/ifnjakstat1-axis-induced-fbxo4-modulates-muscle-cell-differentiation-v-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIRDermatomyositisIFNα/JAK/STAT1 AxisFBXO4Wnt/-catenin signalingmuscle cell differentiation
spellingShingle Yin L
Yang H
Fu M
Bai Y
Hu N
Sun H
IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis-Induced FBXO4 Modulates Muscle Cell Differentiation via β-Catenin Degradation in Dermatomyositis
Journal of Inflammation Research
Dermatomyositis
IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis
FBXO4
Wnt/-catenin signaling
muscle cell differentiation
title IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis-Induced FBXO4 Modulates Muscle Cell Differentiation via β-Catenin Degradation in Dermatomyositis
title_full IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis-Induced FBXO4 Modulates Muscle Cell Differentiation via β-Catenin Degradation in Dermatomyositis
title_fullStr IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis-Induced FBXO4 Modulates Muscle Cell Differentiation via β-Catenin Degradation in Dermatomyositis
title_full_unstemmed IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis-Induced FBXO4 Modulates Muscle Cell Differentiation via β-Catenin Degradation in Dermatomyositis
title_short IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis-Induced FBXO4 Modulates Muscle Cell Differentiation via β-Catenin Degradation in Dermatomyositis
title_sort ifn amp alpha jak stat1 axis induced fbxo4 modulates muscle cell differentiation via amp beta catenin degradation in dermatomyositis
topic Dermatomyositis
IFNα/JAK/STAT1 Axis
FBXO4
Wnt/-catenin signaling
muscle cell differentiation
url https://www.dovepress.com/ifnjakstat1-axis-induced-fbxo4-modulates-muscle-cell-differentiation-v-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIR
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