Objective: Cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR) is one of the mechanisms underlying the drug resistance in multiple myeloma (MM). Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) is downregulated in the apoptotic model and upregulated in the adhesive model of MM. This study was undertaken to determine the role of USP14 in CAM-DR of MM cells.
Methods: We examined the expression of USP14 in the apoptotic model of MM. The mechanism of USP14 in the process of apoptosis was further explored by flow cytometry assay and co-immunoprecipitation. We then performed the cell co-culture and adhesion assay and cell viability assay to investigate the effect of USP14 on adhesive rate and drug resistance in MM.
Results: We discovered that USP14 played a negative role in cell apoptosis, which is correlated with Bcl-xl. Moreover, overexpression of USP14 in MM cell adhesion model could enhance the ability of cell adhesion by regulating Wnt-signaling pathways, thereby promoting the CAM-DR in MM.
Conclusion: USP14 participates in CAM-DR of MM through acting as a bridge between Bcl-xl apoptotic pathway and Wnt-signaling pathways and may be represented as a good candidate for pursuing clinical trials in MM.
Keywords: Multiple myeloma; Ubiquitin-specific protease 14; apoptosis; cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance.
© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.