The COP9 Signalosome Variant CSNCSN7A Stabilizes the Deubiquitylating Enzyme CYLD Impeding Hepatic Steatosis

Hepatic steatosis is a consequence of distorted lipid storage and plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to explore the role of the COP9 signalosome (CSN) in the development of hepatic steatosis and its interplay with the deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) cylindromatosis (CYLD). CSN occurs as CSNCSN7A and CSNCSN7B variants regulating the ubiquitin proteasome system. It is a deneddylating complex and associates with other DUBs. CYLD cleaves Lys63-ubiquitin chains, regulating a signal cascade that mitigates hepatic steatosis. CSN subunits CSN1 and CSN7B, as well as CYLD, were downregulated with specific siRNA in HepG2 cells and human primary hepatocytes. The same cells were transfected with Flag-CSN7A or Flag-CSN7B for pulldowns. Hepatic steatosis in cell culture was induced by palmitic acid (PA). Downregulation of CSN subunits led to reduced PPAR-γ expression. Flag-pulldowns in both LiSa-2 and HepG2 cells and human primary hepatocytes revealed binding of CYLD preferentially to CSNCSN7A. This was influenced by PA treatment. Silencing of CSNCSN7B blocked lipid droplet formation caused a compensatory increase of CSNCSN7A stabilizing CYLD. Our results demonstrate that CSNCSN7A-mediated CYLD stabilization impedes hepatic steatosis. Therefore, stabilizing CSNCSN7A-CYLD interaction might be a strategy to retard hepatic steatosis.