GPX3 promotes cisplatin resistance in TNBC by manipulating ROS-TGFB1-ZEB2

Abstract Background Due to the lack of effective targeted therapies and the high likelihood of acquired resistance, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains one of the deadliest cancers affecting women globally. Investigating the mechanism underlying TNBC’s resistance to platinum-based chemother...

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Main Authors: Qingyi Hu, Qianzhi Chen, Wen Yang, Anwen Ren, Jie Tan, Tao Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Cell Communication and Signaling
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02356-z
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author Qingyi Hu
Qianzhi Chen
Wen Yang
Anwen Ren
Jie Tan
Tao Huang
author_facet Qingyi Hu
Qianzhi Chen
Wen Yang
Anwen Ren
Jie Tan
Tao Huang
author_sort Qingyi Hu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Due to the lack of effective targeted therapies and the high likelihood of acquired resistance, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains one of the deadliest cancers affecting women globally. Investigating the mechanism underlying TNBC’s resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy and identifying new therapeutic targets are urgent priorities. Methods The expression level of GPX3, cisplatin sensitivity, and ROS production were compared across three TNBC cell lines to elucidate the relationship between GPX3 and platinum resistance. RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses of GPX3 knockdown cells revealed its regulation of stress-related signaling pathways and TGFB1. The regulation of TGFB1 by GPX3 was further investigated using Western blotting, RNA interference, confocal microscopy, and inhibitor treatments. The correlation between the expression level of GPX3, TGFB1, and ZEB2 was analyzed using breast cancer microarrays and the TCGA database. The effect of GPX3 on platinum sensitivity in TNBC was studied using a mouse xenograft model. Results GPX3 expression was upregulated in more invasive TNBC cells, promoting resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. RNA sequencing revealed that the deletion of GPX3 resulted in a decrease in gene expression patterns associated with pro-tumor signaling pathways. Validation experiments confirmed that the upregulation of TGFB1 in acquired cisplatin resistance is highly dependent on GPX3. Further investigation revealed that the TGFB1-ZEB2 axis mediated platinum resistance and metastasis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, platinum treatment increased GPX3 and TGFB1 expression and secretion, and their depletion enhanced platinum sensitivity in TNBC cells. We identified the GPX3-TGFB1-ZEB2 regulatory axis and found a positive correlation in the expression of all three in clinical samples. Our study also demonstrated that GPX3 knockdown inhibited TNBC tumor growth in platinum-treated mouse models. Conclusions This study reveals the signaling pathway mediated by GPX3-TGFB1-ZEB2 and its role in acquired platinum resistance and EMT in TNBC. Our findings suggest that GPX3 is a promising biomarker and potential therapeutic target for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of high-risk TNBC patients.
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spelling doaj-art-f3323058654e47cbaadd9cc94e8e3da52025-08-20T03:43:01ZengBMCCell Communication and Signaling1478-811X2025-07-0123111710.1186/s12964-025-02356-zGPX3 promotes cisplatin resistance in TNBC by manipulating ROS-TGFB1-ZEB2Qingyi Hu0Qianzhi Chen1Wen Yang2Anwen Ren3Jie Tan4Tao Huang5Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Due to the lack of effective targeted therapies and the high likelihood of acquired resistance, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains one of the deadliest cancers affecting women globally. Investigating the mechanism underlying TNBC’s resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy and identifying new therapeutic targets are urgent priorities. Methods The expression level of GPX3, cisplatin sensitivity, and ROS production were compared across three TNBC cell lines to elucidate the relationship between GPX3 and platinum resistance. RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses of GPX3 knockdown cells revealed its regulation of stress-related signaling pathways and TGFB1. The regulation of TGFB1 by GPX3 was further investigated using Western blotting, RNA interference, confocal microscopy, and inhibitor treatments. The correlation between the expression level of GPX3, TGFB1, and ZEB2 was analyzed using breast cancer microarrays and the TCGA database. The effect of GPX3 on platinum sensitivity in TNBC was studied using a mouse xenograft model. Results GPX3 expression was upregulated in more invasive TNBC cells, promoting resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. RNA sequencing revealed that the deletion of GPX3 resulted in a decrease in gene expression patterns associated with pro-tumor signaling pathways. Validation experiments confirmed that the upregulation of TGFB1 in acquired cisplatin resistance is highly dependent on GPX3. Further investigation revealed that the TGFB1-ZEB2 axis mediated platinum resistance and metastasis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, platinum treatment increased GPX3 and TGFB1 expression and secretion, and their depletion enhanced platinum sensitivity in TNBC cells. We identified the GPX3-TGFB1-ZEB2 regulatory axis and found a positive correlation in the expression of all three in clinical samples. Our study also demonstrated that GPX3 knockdown inhibited TNBC tumor growth in platinum-treated mouse models. Conclusions This study reveals the signaling pathway mediated by GPX3-TGFB1-ZEB2 and its role in acquired platinum resistance and EMT in TNBC. Our findings suggest that GPX3 is a promising biomarker and potential therapeutic target for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of high-risk TNBC patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02356-zTriple-negative breast cancerCisplatinChemoresistance
spellingShingle Qingyi Hu
Qianzhi Chen
Wen Yang
Anwen Ren
Jie Tan
Tao Huang
GPX3 promotes cisplatin resistance in TNBC by manipulating ROS-TGFB1-ZEB2
Cell Communication and Signaling
Triple-negative breast cancer
Cisplatin
Chemoresistance
title GPX3 promotes cisplatin resistance in TNBC by manipulating ROS-TGFB1-ZEB2
title_full GPX3 promotes cisplatin resistance in TNBC by manipulating ROS-TGFB1-ZEB2
title_fullStr GPX3 promotes cisplatin resistance in TNBC by manipulating ROS-TGFB1-ZEB2
title_full_unstemmed GPX3 promotes cisplatin resistance in TNBC by manipulating ROS-TGFB1-ZEB2
title_short GPX3 promotes cisplatin resistance in TNBC by manipulating ROS-TGFB1-ZEB2
title_sort gpx3 promotes cisplatin resistance in tnbc by manipulating ros tgfb1 zeb2
topic Triple-negative breast cancer
Cisplatin
Chemoresistance
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02356-z
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