MAFF mediates PEITC-induced enhancement of sensitivity to carboplatin in ovarian cancer cell lines via activating ZNF711 transcription in vivo and in vitro

Enhanced drug resistance poses a significant challenge in treating ovarian cancer (OC). Phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is involved in drug resistance in OC, but the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the molecular regulatory mechanism of carboplatin sensitivity in OC associated with PEITC, MAF BZIP Transcription Factor F (MAFF), and Zinc finger proteins (ZNF) 711. The carboplatin sensitivity was significantly increased in OC cells after PEITC treatment. Knockdown of MAFF significantly enhanced the carboplatin sensitivity of OC cells, promoted apoptosis, inhibited colony-forming efficiency in vitro, and suppressed tumor growth in vivo. The binding site of MAFF to the ZNF711 promoter was predicted, and the knockdown of MAFF significantly increased the ZNF711 expression. Results of the dual luciferase assay and ChIP-PCR confirmed the binding of MAFF to the ZNF711 promoter. Immunofluorescence and CoIP results demonstrated the colocalization and the binding of MAFF and its interacting protein, BZIP Transcription Factor ATF-like 3 (BATF3). Similarly, we confirmed the binding of BATF3 to the ZNF711 promoter. Knockdown of BATF3 alone and simultaneous knockdown of BATF3 and MAFF showed similar regulatory effects on ZNF711 transcription and apoptosis. These suggested that the binding of MAFF to BATF3 inhibited ZNF711 transcription and reduced carboplatin sensitivity in OC.