Mogrol-mediated enhancement of radiotherapy sensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer: a mechanistic study

This study investigated mogrol's impact on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) radiosensitivity and underlying mechanisms, using various methods including assays, bioinformatics, and xenograft models. CCK-8, clonogenic, flow cytometry, TUNEL, and Western blot assays evaluated mogrol and radiation effects on NSCLC viability and apoptosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) expression in NSCLC patient tissues was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. A xenograft model validated mogrol's effects on tumor growth. Bioinformatics identified four ubiquitin-specific proteases, including USP22, in NSCLC. Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed USP22's value in lung cancer survival. Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database analysis indicated higher USP22 expression in lung cancer tissues. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis implicated ERK1/2 in NSCLC progression, and molecular docking showed stability between mogrol and ERK1/2. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that mogrol enhances the inhibitory effect of radiation on NSCLC cell viability and clonogenic capacity. Cell viability and clonogenic capacity are reduced by >50%, and an increase in cellular apoptosis is observed, with apoptotic levels reaching 10%. USP22 expression was significantly elevated in NSCLC tissues, particularly in radiotherapy-resistant patients. Mogrol downregulated USP22 expression by inhibiting the ERK/CREB pathway, lowering COX2 expression. Mogrol also enhanced radiation's inhibition of tumor growth in mice. Mogrol enhances NSCLC radiosensitivity by downregulating USP22 via the ERK/CREB pathway, leading to reduced COX2 expression.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mogrol enhances non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell sensitivity to radiotherapy by downregulating USP22 through the ERK/CREB pathway, reducing COX2 expression. These findings highlight mogrol's potential as an adjunct to improve NSCLC radiotherapy and open avenues for further research and clinical applications.