Lenvatinib promotes hepatocellular carcinoma pyroptosis by regulating GSDME palmitoylation

Lenvatinib, as a multi-kinase inhibitor, has been approved as a first-line drug for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, can be induced by chemotherapy drugs or certain kinase inhibitors. However, the role of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuan Yuan, Mu-Ru Wang, Yang Ding, Ya Lin, Ting-Ting Xu, Xing-Xing He, Pei-Yuan Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cancer Biology & Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15384047.2025.2532217
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849721309436575744
author Yuan Yuan
Mu-Ru Wang
Yang Ding
Ya Lin
Ting-Ting Xu
Xing-Xing He
Pei-Yuan Li
author_facet Yuan Yuan
Mu-Ru Wang
Yang Ding
Ya Lin
Ting-Ting Xu
Xing-Xing He
Pei-Yuan Li
author_sort Yuan Yuan
collection DOAJ
description Lenvatinib, as a multi-kinase inhibitor, has been approved as a first-line drug for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, can be induced by chemotherapy drugs or certain kinase inhibitors. However, the role of Lenvatinib in inducing pyroptosis in HCC warrants further investigation. Phase contrast microscopy, LDH assays, and gain- and loss-of-function strategies were used to evaluate Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis in HCC cells. GSDME palmitoylation was assessed via the acyl-biotin exchange method. In vivo, a subcutaneous HCC xenograft model in nude mice were established to assess the effects of interfering with GSDME on the sensitivity of HCC to Lenvatinib. Lenvatinib induced pyroptosis in HCC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, Lenvatinib promoted GSDME cleavage, with upregulation of GSDME enhancing pyroptosis and downregulation reducing this effect. The ABE method revealed that GSDME is palmitoylated, and Lenvatinib increased its palmitoylation, promoting plasma membrane localization and enhancing protein stability. Inhibition of GSDME palmitoylation by 2-BP blocked Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis. In vivo, upregulation of GSDME increased HCC sensitivity to Lenvatinib and inhibited tumor growth. Lenvatinib induces pyroptosis in HCC by promoting the palmitoylation of GSDME, enhancing its localization to the plasma membrane and increasing its protein stability. Interfering with GSDME, both in vitro and in vivo, affects Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis, thereby altering the therapeutic sensitivity of HCC to Lenvatinib. Targeting GSDME palmitoylation represents a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC, as it enhances Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis and improves the therapeutic response.
format Article
id doaj-art-abf98ecccd8b4a57b0e2201d8105ede2
institution DOAJ
issn 1538-4047
1555-8576
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cancer Biology & Therapy
spelling doaj-art-abf98ecccd8b4a57b0e2201d8105ede22025-08-20T03:11:42ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCancer Biology & Therapy1538-40471555-85762025-12-0126110.1080/15384047.2025.2532217Lenvatinib promotes hepatocellular carcinoma pyroptosis by regulating GSDME palmitoylationYuan Yuan0Mu-Ru Wang1Yang Ding2Ya Lin3Ting-Ting Xu4Xing-Xing He5Pei-Yuan Li6Division of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDivision of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, ChinaDivision of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDivision of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, ChinaDivision of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaLenvatinib, as a multi-kinase inhibitor, has been approved as a first-line drug for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, can be induced by chemotherapy drugs or certain kinase inhibitors. However, the role of Lenvatinib in inducing pyroptosis in HCC warrants further investigation. Phase contrast microscopy, LDH assays, and gain- and loss-of-function strategies were used to evaluate Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis in HCC cells. GSDME palmitoylation was assessed via the acyl-biotin exchange method. In vivo, a subcutaneous HCC xenograft model in nude mice were established to assess the effects of interfering with GSDME on the sensitivity of HCC to Lenvatinib. Lenvatinib induced pyroptosis in HCC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, Lenvatinib promoted GSDME cleavage, with upregulation of GSDME enhancing pyroptosis and downregulation reducing this effect. The ABE method revealed that GSDME is palmitoylated, and Lenvatinib increased its palmitoylation, promoting plasma membrane localization and enhancing protein stability. Inhibition of GSDME palmitoylation by 2-BP blocked Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis. In vivo, upregulation of GSDME increased HCC sensitivity to Lenvatinib and inhibited tumor growth. Lenvatinib induces pyroptosis in HCC by promoting the palmitoylation of GSDME, enhancing its localization to the plasma membrane and increasing its protein stability. Interfering with GSDME, both in vitro and in vivo, affects Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis, thereby altering the therapeutic sensitivity of HCC to Lenvatinib. Targeting GSDME palmitoylation represents a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC, as it enhances Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis and improves the therapeutic response.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15384047.2025.2532217Hepatocellular carcinomaLenvatinibpyroptosispalmitoylationGSDME
spellingShingle Yuan Yuan
Mu-Ru Wang
Yang Ding
Ya Lin
Ting-Ting Xu
Xing-Xing He
Pei-Yuan Li
Lenvatinib promotes hepatocellular carcinoma pyroptosis by regulating GSDME palmitoylation
Cancer Biology & Therapy
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Lenvatinib
pyroptosis
palmitoylation
GSDME
title Lenvatinib promotes hepatocellular carcinoma pyroptosis by regulating GSDME palmitoylation
title_full Lenvatinib promotes hepatocellular carcinoma pyroptosis by regulating GSDME palmitoylation
title_fullStr Lenvatinib promotes hepatocellular carcinoma pyroptosis by regulating GSDME palmitoylation
title_full_unstemmed Lenvatinib promotes hepatocellular carcinoma pyroptosis by regulating GSDME palmitoylation
title_short Lenvatinib promotes hepatocellular carcinoma pyroptosis by regulating GSDME palmitoylation
title_sort lenvatinib promotes hepatocellular carcinoma pyroptosis by regulating gsdme palmitoylation
topic Hepatocellular carcinoma
Lenvatinib
pyroptosis
palmitoylation
GSDME
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15384047.2025.2532217
work_keys_str_mv AT yuanyuan lenvatinibpromoteshepatocellularcarcinomapyroptosisbyregulatinggsdmepalmitoylation
AT muruwang lenvatinibpromoteshepatocellularcarcinomapyroptosisbyregulatinggsdmepalmitoylation
AT yangding lenvatinibpromoteshepatocellularcarcinomapyroptosisbyregulatinggsdmepalmitoylation
AT yalin lenvatinibpromoteshepatocellularcarcinomapyroptosisbyregulatinggsdmepalmitoylation
AT tingtingxu lenvatinibpromoteshepatocellularcarcinomapyroptosisbyregulatinggsdmepalmitoylation
AT xingxinghe lenvatinibpromoteshepatocellularcarcinomapyroptosisbyregulatinggsdmepalmitoylation
AT peiyuanli lenvatinibpromoteshepatocellularcarcinomapyroptosisbyregulatinggsdmepalmitoylation