Inhibition of De Novo NAD+ Synthesis by Oncogenic URI Causes Liver Tumorigenesis through DNA Damage
Published on
August 30, 2021 at 10:56:00 AM PDT August 30, 2021 at 10:56:00 AM PDTth, August 30, 2021 at 10:56:00 AM PDT
Authors: Krishna S. Tummala, Ana L. Gomes, Mahmut Yilmaz, Osvaldo Grana, Latifa Bakiri, Isabel Ruppen, Pilar Ximenez-Embun, Vinayata Sheshappanavar, Manuel Rodriguez-Justo, David G. Pisano, Erwin F. Wagner, and Nabil Djouder
ABSTRACT
Molecular mechanisms responsible for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown. Using genetically engineered mouse models, we show that hepatocyte-specific expression of unconventional prefoldin RPB5 interactor (URI) leads to a multistep process of HCC development, whereas its genetic reduction in hepatocytes protects against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC. URI inhibits aryl hydrocarbon (AhR)- and estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated transcription of enzymes implicated in L-tryptophan/kynurenine/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) metabolism, thereby causing DNA damage at early stages of tumorigenesis. Restoring NAD(+) pools with nicotinamide riboside (NR) prevents DNA damage and tumor formation. Consistently, URI expression in human HCC is associated with poor survival and correlates negatively with L-tryptophan catabolism pathway. Our results suggest that boosting NAD(+) can be prophylactic or therapeutic in HCC.