Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a secreted glycoprotein linked to several physiological roles, including transporting hydrophobic ligands across cell membranes, modulating immune responses, maintaining iron homeostasis, and promoting epithelial cell differentiation. Although LNC2 is expressed at low levels in most human tissues, it is abundant in aggressive subtypes of cancer, including breast, pancreas, thyroid, ovarian, colon, and bile duct cancers. High levels of LCN2 have been associated with increased cell proliferation, angiogenesis, cell invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, LCN2 modulates the degradation, allosteric events, and enzymatic activity of matrix metalloprotease-9, a metalloprotease that promotes tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Hence, LCN2 has emerged as a potential therapeutic target against many cancer types. This review summarizes the most relevant findings regarding the expression, biological roles, and regulation of LCN2, as well as the proteins LCN2 interacts with in cancer. We also discuss the approaches to targeting LCN2 for cancer treatment that are currently under investigation, including the use of interference RNAs, antibodies, and gene editing.

Recombinant MG53 translocates to sites of injury in the proximal tubule of the kidney and protects mice from acute kidney injury induced by ischemia or drugs.

The myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) is a cytoskeleton-associated protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) holoenzyme and a RhoA/ROCK effector, regulating cytoskeletal reorganization. ROCK-induced phosphorylation of the MLCP regulatory subunit (MYPT1) at two sites, Thr696 and Thr853, suppresses the activity, although little is known about the difference in the role. Here, we developed a new method for the preparation of the recombinant human MLCP complex and determined the molecular and cellular basis of inhibitory phosphorylation. The recombinant MLCP partially purified from mammalian cell lysates retained characteristics of the native enzyme, such that it was fully active without Mn²⁺ and sensitive to PP1 inhibitor compounds. Selective thio-phosphorylation of MYPT1 at Thr696 with ROCK inhibited the MLCP activity 30%, whereas the Thr853 thio-phosphorylation did not alter the phosphatase activity. Interference with the docking of phospho-Thr696 at the active site weakened the inhibition, suggesting selective autoinhibition induced by phospho-Thr696. Both Thr696 and Thr853 sites underwent autodephosphorylation. Compared with that of Thr853, phosphorylation of Thr696 was more stable, and it facilitated Thr853 phosphorylation. Endogenous MYPT1 at Thr696 was spontaneously phosphorylated in quiescent human leiomyosarcoma cells. Serum stimulation of the cells resulted in dissociation of MYPT1 from myosin and PP1C in parallel with an increase in the level of Thr853 phosphorylation. The C-terminal domain of human MYPT1(495–1030) was responsible for the binding to the N-terminal portion of myosin light meromyosin. The spontaneous phosphorylation at Thr696 may adjust the basal activity of cellular MLCP and affect the temporal phosphorylation at Thr853 that is synchronized with myosin targeting.

Postnatal skeletal muscle mass is regulated by the balance between anabolic protein synthesis and catabolic protein degradation, and muscle atrophy occurs when protein homeostasis is disrupted. Autophagy has emerged as critical in clearing dysfunctional organelles and thus in regulating protein turnover. Here we show that endolysosomal two-pore channel subtype 2 (TPC2) contributes to autophagy signaling and protein homeostasis in skeletal muscle. Muscles derived from Tpcn2^−/− mice exhibit an atrophic phenotype with exacerbated autophagy under starvation. Compared with wild types, animals lacking TPC2 demonstrated an enhanced autophagy flux characterized by increased accumulation of autophagosomes upon combined stress induction by starvation and colchicine treatment. In addition, deletion of TPC2 in muscle caused aberrant lysosomal pH homeostasis and reduced lysosomal protease activity. Association between mammalian target of rapamycin and TPC2 was detected in skeletal muscle, allowing for appropriate adjustments to cellular metabolic states and subsequent execution of autophagy. TPC2 therefore impacts mammalian target of rapamycin reactivation during the process of autophagy and contributes to maintenance of muscle homeostasis. Background: The endolysosomal TPC2 ion channel interacts with mTOR to regulate cellular energy utilization. Results: Mice lacking TPC2 display muscle atrophy phenotype with reduced muscle endurance, altered autophagy, and lysosomal enzymatic activities. Conclusion: TPC2 regulates autophagic signaling in skeletal muscle. Significance: TPC2 impacts protein turnover via regulating autophagy signaling in the process of tissue homeostasis and aging.

MG53 is a muscle-specific TRIM-family protein that presides over the cell membrane repair response. Here, we show that MG53 present in blood circulation acts as a myokine to facilitate tissue injury-repair and regeneration. Transgenic mice with sustained elevation of MG53 in the bloodstream (tPA-MG53) have a healthier and longer life-span when compared with littermate wild type mice. The tPA-MG53 mice show normal glucose handling and insulin signaling in skeletal muscle, and sustained elevation of MG53 in the bloodstream does not have a deleterious impact on db/db mice. More importantly, the tPA-MG53 mice display remarkable dermal wound healing capacity, enhanced muscle performance, and improved injury-repair and regeneration. Recombinant human MG53 protein protects against eccentric contraction-induced acute and chronic muscle injury in mice. Our findings highlight the myokine function of MG53 in tissue protection and present MG53 as an attractive biological reagent for regenerative medicine without interference with glucose handling in the body.

TRIM family proteins play integral roles in the innate immune response to virus infection. MG53 (TRIM72) is essential for cell membrane repair and is believed to be a muscle-specific TRIM protein. Here we show human macrophages express MG53, and MG53 protein expression is reduced following virus infection. Knockdown of MG53 in macrophages leads to increases in type I interferon (IFN) upon infection. MG53 knockout mice infected with influenza virus show comparable influenza virus titres to wild type mice, but display increased morbidity accompanied by more accumulation of CD45+ cells and elevation of IFNβ in the lung. We find that MG53 knockdown results in activation of NFκB signalling, which is linked to an increase in intracellular calcium oscillation mediated by ryanodine receptor (RyR). MG53 inhibits IFNβ induction in an RyR-dependent manner. This study establishes MG53 as a new target for control of virus-induced morbidity and tissue injury.