CYB5D2 enhances HeLa cells survival of etoposide-induced cytotoxicity

Cytochrome b5 domain containing 2 (CYB5D2) (neuferricin) belongs to the family of membrane-associated progesterone receptors (MAPRs). MAPRs affect multiple cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Consistent with these observations, we report here that CYB5D2 enhances HeLa cells survival of etoposide (ETOP)-mediated cytotoxicity. Overexpression of CYB5D2 enhanced the survival of HeLa cells compared with HeLa cells transfected with empty vector (EV) upon ETOP treatment. As ETOP initiates ATM-dependent DNA damage response (DDR), we were able to show that CYB5D2 did not affect ETOP-induced DDR. In line with these observations, CYB5D2 did not protect HeLa cells from UV-induced cytotoxicity. Additionally, CYB5D2 had no effects on TNFα-induced apoptosis. Collectively, CYB5D2 enhances HeLa cell survival of ETOP-induced cytotoxicity with some specificity. CYB5D2 contains a cytochrome b5 (cyt-b5) domain and a transmembrane (TM) motif. Both domains are required for CYB5D2-mediated protection of HeLa cells from ETOP-induced cytotoxicity. In an effort to search for the underlying mechanisms, we have profiled gene expression between HeLa-CYB5D2 and HeLa-EV cells. Although ectopic CYB5D2 does not massively alter gene expression, the expression of several transcripts was affected more than 2-fold, suggesting that they may contribute to CYB5D2-mediated HeLa cell survival of ETOP treatment.