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RNF5 promotes acute lung injury through HSPA5 ER-to-cytosol translocation and resultant PERK activation

delete2026-08-10
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PRE
AI
Y
Ya-Zhou Sun
X
Xin-Yan Li
J
Jia Wang
M
Meng-Liu Zeng
W
Wei-Yi Qu
X
Xu Cheng
L
Lei Luo
W
Wei Wang
J
Juan Yang
J
Jun Zhang
H
Han Tian
P
Peng Zhang
Z
Zhi‐Gang She *
H
Hongliang Li *
X
Xiao-Jing Zhang *
DOI:10.1038/s41418-026-01843-1delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are severe conditions lacking specific pharmacological treatments. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a pivotal role in their pathophysiology, yet the precise regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase ring finger protein 5 (RNF5) as a critical driver of ALI/ARDS. RNF5 is markedly upregulated in response to ALI and significantly exacerbates lung injury by stabilizing HSPA5 (heat shock protein family A member 5), a master regulator of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Notably, in vivo Rnf5 ablation effectively attenuated pulmonary edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and apoptosis, whereas lung-specific Rnf5 overexpression worsened inflammation and cell death in mice. Mechanistically, RNF5 interacts with HSPA5 and competitively blocks its binding to PERK, facilitating PERK release. Furthermore, RNF5 promotes the retro-translocation of HSPA5 from the ER lumen to the cytosol. In the cytosol, RNF5 mediates the K6- and K63-linked polyubiquitination of HSPA5, enhancing its thermal stability and preventing its re-entry into the ER. This spatial sequestration sustains the persistent dissociation of the PERK-HSPA5 complex, leading to the hyperactivation of the pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory PERK-eIF2α-CHOP signaling cascade. The ability of RNF5 to promote ALI is strictly dependent on its E3 ligase activity. In conclusion, our findings uncover a compartment-specific regulatory mechanism of HSPA5, suggesting that the RNF5-HSPA5-PERK axis represents a promising therapeutic target for ALI/ARDS.

Journal

Cell Death and Differentiation cover
Cell Death and Differentiation
IF:
15.4
Papers:
5.6K
Citations:
3.3W

Organization

R
Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University
Scholars:
1.5K
Papers: 410
Citations: 2
G
gannan medical university
Scholars:
745
Papers: 223
Citations: 0
Z
Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University
Scholars:
1.4K
Papers: 361
Citations: 1
W
wuhan university
Scholars:
7.8W
Papers: 5.7W
Citations: 70
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