EDARADD promotes colon cancer progression by suppressing E3 ligase Trim21-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of Snail

Tumor cell migration, specifically epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), serves as a key contributor to treatment failure in colon cancer patients. However, the limited comprehension of its genetic and biological aspects presents challenges for its investigation. EDAR-associated death domain (EDARADD), an important TNFR superfamily member, is elevated in colon cancer. However, it remains unclear about the exact role of EDARADD in the progression of colon cancer metastasis. In this study, we initially demonstrated that both protein and mRNA levels of EDDARADD are elevated in colon cancer tissues and cells, associated with reduced overall survival. Furthermore, functional experiments demonstrated that EDARADD promotes colon cancer cell proliferation and participates in EMT both in vitro and vivo. Mechanistically, Co-IP verified EDARADD could stabilize Snail1 by interacting with E3 ubiquitin ligase Trim21 to inhibit ubiquitination of Snail1. Interestingly, RNA-seq and ubiquitination assay revealed EDARADD's dual downregulation of Trim21 expression at the translational level via Cul1-mediated ubiquitin degradation, and at the transcriptional level through PPARa regulation. Moreover, EDARADD activates NF-κB signaling and experiences feedback transcriptional regulation by p65. In conclusion, this study highlights the signal pathway of EDARADD-PPARa-Trim21-Snail1-EMT and a feedback regulation of NF-κB signaling on EDARADD, which indicated EDARADD as an emerging therapeutic target for colon cancer. [Display omitted] •EDARADD, as an oncogene, promotes colon cancer progression.•EDARADD interacts with Trim21 protein.•EDARADD downregulates Trim21 expression through Cullin1-mediated ubiquitin degradation and transcriptional regulation via PPARa.•Loss of EDARADD by a combined approach of QNZ and fenofibrate (a PPARα activator) suppresses colon cancer metastasis.